Great Falls — Montana's third-largest city and home to Malmstrom Air Force Base — offers a K-12 education system built around Great Falls Public Schools, one of the state's largest districts with approximately 10,000 students. Complemented by Great Falls College MSU and the University of Providence, the city provides educational pathways from kindergarten through four-year degrees. The military community shapes the schools in distinctive ways — from enrollment turnover to JROTC programs — giving Great Falls's education landscape a character unlike any other Montana city. For the full city profile, see our Great Falls guide.
At a Glance
K-12 Public Schools
Great Falls Public Schools serves approximately 10,000 students across a network of elementary schools, middle schools, and two comprehensive high schools. Great Falls High School — the Bison — is the city's oldest high school and one of Montana's most storied, carrying decades of academic and athletic tradition. C.M. Russell High School — the Rustlers, named for legendary Western artist Charles M. Russell — opened to serve the city's growing east side, and the two schools have sustained one of Montana's fiercest crosstown rivalries. Both compete at the Class AA level, Montana's largest classification, and the annual Bison-Rustler showdowns in football, basketball, and track are defining events on the community calendar.
The graduation rate stands at 79%, which is somewhat below the Montana state average. This partly reflects the realities of a military community — families rotating in and out of Malmstrom Air Force Base every two to four years create enrollment churn that complicates cohort tracking and graduation-rate statistics. Students who transfer mid-year are counted against the originating school's completion metrics even when they graduate elsewhere. Per-pupil spending of $10,800 reflects the community's support for education through local mill levies and bond measures.
For enrollment information, school boundaries, and calendar details, visit the district's website at gfps.k12.mt.us.
Academic Programs & Specialties
Both Great Falls High School and C.M. Russell High School offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses across English, mathematics, sciences, and social studies. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are a significant strength, with pathways in health sciences, information technology, automotive technology, welding, and construction trades — fields that connect directly to Great Falls's healthcare, defense, and skilled-trades employment landscape. Dual-enrollment agreements with Great Falls College MSU allow qualifying juniors and seniors to earn college credits while still in high school, giving students a head start on postsecondary education.
Great Falls's military community adds a distinctive dimension to school programming. Both high schools offer Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs — a direct reflection of Malmstrom Air Force Base's presence — providing students with leadership training, discipline, physical fitness, and a pathway toward military service or ROTC scholarships at the college level. The schools also benefit from military-connected families who bring geographic diversity and broad life experience into classrooms, enriching the educational environment in ways unique among Montana districts.
Private & Alternative Schools
Families in Great Falls have access to private school options that reflect the city's character. Several faith-based schools serve elementary and middle school students, offering smaller class sizes and values-centered curricula. The Catholic school tradition is well-established in Great Falls, supported by the same community that sustains the University of Providence. Homeschooling is well-represented in the Great Falls area, with cooperative groups that provide group instruction, field trips, and social activities. The Montana Digital Academy offers accredited online courses for homeschool families and students seeking coursework beyond what their local school provides.
Great Falls College MSU
Great Falls College MSU is a two-year community college affiliated with Montana State University, serving as the city's primary institution for accessible, affordable postsecondary education. The college offers associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training programs with particular strength in nursing, health sciences, diesel technology, welding, cybersecurity, and trades — fields that align directly with Great Falls's largest employers. The nursing program is especially significant: graduates feed directly into Benefis Health System, the city's largest civilian employer, creating an efficient local pipeline from classroom to career.
For students who are uncertain about a four-year degree or need to balance work and education, Great Falls College MSU provides an affordable on-ramp with small class sizes and hands-on instruction. Transfer pathways to Montana State University in Bozeman and other four-year institutions allow students to begin locally and complete bachelor's degrees without losing credits. The college also serves the military community — service members and military spouses use tuition assistance and GI Bill benefits to pursue credentials through the college's flexible scheduling and online course offerings.
University of Providence
The University of Providence — formerly the University of Great Falls — is a small private Catholic university with approximately 1,000 students. Founded by the Sisters of Providence, the university offers bachelor's and select master's degrees across liberal arts, sciences, education, and health-related fields. Its small size fosters close faculty-student relationships and a tight-knit campus culture. The Argos compete in NAIA athletics, and the university serves as a cultural and educational asset for a city that would otherwise lack a four-year institution.
However, the University of Providence is a private institution with limited enrollment capacity, and Great Falls does not have a large public university. Students seeking affordable four-year degrees or graduate programs must look to the University of Montana in Missoula (200 miles west) or Montana State University in Bozeman (185 miles southeast). This absence of a large public university distinguishes Great Falls from both Missoula and Bozeman and shapes the city's educational profile around workforce-oriented training at Great Falls College MSU and the targeted programs at Providence.
Libraries & Continuing Education
The Great Falls Public Library serves the city and surrounding area with a well-equipped main branch and community programming that includes children's reading programs, digital literacy classes, and meeting spaces. The library maintains a notable Montana Room collection focused on local history, including materials related to the Lewis and Clark expedition, the homesteading era, and the city's development as a military and industrial center along the Missouri River.
Great Falls College MSU provides community education offerings, non-credit courses, professional development workshops, and workforce training for adult learners. GED preparation, English-language learning, and career-transition programs serve both long-term residents and incoming military families adapting to a new community. Early childhood education options — including Head Start, private preschools, and childcare centers — serve the families of military personnel, healthcare workers, and other professionals, though childcare availability is a persistent concern shared with communities across Montana.
Schools & Family Life
For families considering a move, Great Falls's education system offers a large two-high-school district with 79% graduation rate, competitive per-pupil spending, strong CTE and JROTC programs, and the added dimension of a two-year college and small university. The crosstown rivalry between Great Falls High and C.M. Russell High gives both schools strong identities and keeps athletics and extracurriculars vibrant. Military families will find a community well-practiced in welcoming newcomers — school counselors, family readiness groups, and on-base support services are geared toward smooth transitions for children entering mid-year.
The trade-off is a graduation rate that lags the state average — though much of this is attributable to military-related transfers rather than dropout rates — and the absence of a large public university for college-bound students. But many families view these as acceptable trade-offs for the stability, affordability, and strong sense of community that define Great Falls during the formative K-12 years. Housing near the most sought-after schools tends to run above the city median. For details on housing by neighborhood, see our Great Falls housing market guide. For the overall cost picture, see the cost of living guide.