Private School Review - Established 2003

Clark Fork School

2525 Rattlesnake Dr Missoula, MT 59802
Tel: (406) 728-3395
www.clarkforkschool.org

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Top Ranked MT School
  • School Type: Early Childhood / Day Care
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-Kindergarten
  • Enrollment: 100 students
  • Acceptance rate: 50%
  • Average class size: 16 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: ✓Verified school update
Clark Fork School Photo #1
Clark Fork School Photo #2 - This is our apprentice teacher Shirley acting as the camp cook for an old logging camp and a student dressed as a logger.
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Quick Facts (2026)

  • Top Ranked MT School
  • School Type: Early Childhood / Day Care
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-Kindergarten
  • Enrollment: 100 students
  • Acceptance rate: 50%
  • Average class size: 16 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Clark Fork School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Montana for:

Category
Attribute
Acceptance Rate
Lowest average acceptance rates

School Facts

School Type
Early Childhood / Day Care
Religious Affiliation
Nonsectarian
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-Kindergarten
Students By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade

GradeClark Fork School
Pre-K63
Kind17
520
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Year Founded
1982
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
View Summer Program Details
School Calendar
View School Calendar
Campus Size
1 acre

Student Body

Total Students
100 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
8%
State avg.: 17%

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
1 teacher
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
35%
Average Class Size
16 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
Please see website
Summer Program Cost Notes
Please see website
% on Financial Aid
10%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,000
Acceptance Rate
50%
National avg.: 82%
Admissions Director
Joy Brooke, Director
Admissions Associate
Kris Litz
Application URL
Online Application

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
5 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
French Classes


Club or Organization:
After CareBefore Care
Ski ProgramSwim Program

School Notes

  • Founded in 1982, Clark Fork School offers children a unique educational experience, combining a strong academic program and diverse experiential learning.
  • Clark Fork School is an independent parent cooperative, dedicated to nurturing the whole child and to furthering the vital role parents play in the education of their children.
  • Clark Fork School accommodates the interests, needs, and learning style of each child.
  • We maintain a low student-teacher ratio, which allows our teachers to know their students well and provide individualized instruction.
  • Clark Fork School focuses on experiential, or hands-on, learning, much of which takes place outdoors.
  • Our teachers use place-based curriculum to help our children discover their unique and important roles in the communities to which they belong: their school, their town, the natural environment, the nation, and the world.
  • School Motto: Clark Fork School is an educational organization where experience in nature and progressive, place-based curriculum foster academic excellence and connection to local and global communities.
  • Since its inception, Clark Fork School's mission has remained the same: to create a cooperative educational community in which a sense of belonging fosters the unfolding of children's individual abilities, interests, and gifts.
  • We help children to participate successfully, contribute effectively, and to take delight in their community and their world.
  • Our classes encourage each student to develop a strong sense of self within a multicultural world, and we emphasize our connections with the natural world through many outings and in-class projects.
  • Our low student-teacher ratio and team-teaching approach allows our teachers to know their students well and help each child establish his or her own pace of learning.
  • Parents at Clark Fork School are involved in the important decisions concerning their children's education and are essential participants both in and out of the classroom.
  • Children enrolled in our Preschool program enjoy diverse opportunities to explore independence and working with others, building friendships and community, making choices, trying new activities, and practicing skills that prepare them for future learning.
  • Among our typical activities are: painting and drawing; building with blocks; writing, dictating, and acting out student-created stories; investigating natural materials; using clay and dough; role-playing and dress-up; singing; looking at books and listening to stories; running, jumping, and climbing; and counting, measuring, and comparing. Students may attend two, three, or five days a week, partial or full days.
  • Students in the Kindergarten and Primary programs enjoy an integrated curriculum, combining traditional teaching with thematic, real-life applications of science, language arts, social studies, mathematics, and physical activity. Outside free-play, movement, cooperative games, and hands-on learning are part of every day. We participate in ski and swim programs. Fine arts, such as music, drama, painting, sculpture, or visual arts are part of our curriculum. Our school is equipped with computers and a 1500-volume library. Our students participate in frequent field trips and receive classroom visits by members of Missoulas community for an enriched learning experience.
  • We encourage our students to think of themselves as part of a larger school community. We provide many opportunities for children of all ages to interact with one another. These include everyday activities, such as joint playground time and special school-wide events in which older and younger children work on projects collaboratively.
  • Our after-school programs are for students 2 years old through 5th grade. We offer pick-up at Rattlesnake School. All activities focus on having fun in the out-of-doors and deepening students' sense of place in the Missoula Valley.
  • Our summer program offers an opportunity to acclimate younger children to our Preschool program during two four-week sessions. Older children participate in theme-based adventure camps, each lasting one week.
  • We seek families of all backgrounds who wish to participate in our school. We maintain waiting lists when our classes become full. We can offer limited scholarships to income-qualified applicants, and we are a certified childcare provider for those receiving state-pay assistance. All children must be fully immunized and toilet trained to attend Clark Fork School.
  • Please contact us if you have any questions about the school. Our phone number is (406) 728-3395 and you can find us on the Internet at http://www.clarkforkschool.org.
Source: Verified school update
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate of Clark Fork School?
The acceptance rate of Clark Fork School is 50%, which is lower than the national average of 87%. Clark Fork School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Montana with low acceptance rates.
Does Clark Fork School offer a summer program?
Yes, Clark Fork School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is Clark Fork School's ranking?
Clark Fork School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Montana for: Lowest average acceptance rates.
When is the application deadline for Clark Fork School?
The application deadline for Clark Fork School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
In what neighborhood is Clark Fork School located?
Clark Fork School is located in the Upper Rattlesnake neighborhood of Missoula, MT.

School Reviews

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Missoula, MT is $17,433 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Missoula, MT is 82% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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