Military Families

Frequently Asked Questions About Our District 

Are there city leagues?
The City of Great Falls coordinates all of the city’s adult recreation leagues. The City of Great Falls Park and Recreation (406) 771-1265, The Heisey Youth Center (406) 453-1211, and the Salvation Army (406) 453-0391, offer programs for youth.

Are uniforms required?
No, uniforms are not required in the public schools. However, the district does support a dress code. Please refer to dress code in the Student Handbook.

Do all ages/grades ride together?
Elementary students ride together. Middle school students may occasionally ride with high school students. Currently all students are transported separately. More information can be found on the District’s Transportation page.

Do I have the option to choose what school my child attends if there is room?
All students shall attend the school in their designated attendance areas according to the residential address of their parent(s) or legal guardian as of the first day of school. If you would rather your child attend a different school, a permissive transfer form must originate from the transferring school (area where student’s parents or legal guardian reside). Forms are available at each school building. Permissive transfers will only be considered if classroom space is available at the requested school and is often granted, but not guaranteed. It is up to the parent to check with the school to see if space is available. Additionally, transportation to a school that is not assigned will not be provided. See Board policy 3110 for more information.

Do kids still go outside if it is snowing?
Yes, kids will still have outside recess. Building principals monitor the weather and decide to keep student inside during extreme weather. We encourage parents to make sure their students are dressed appropriately for inclement weather.

Do kids still have to go to school when it snows?
Yes, it is the belief of the school district that children are provided a safe and secure place during weather events while at school. It is a rare occasion that schools are closed due to weather. In the event of severe weather, the Superintendent would decide to close schools. Please refer to Board policy 2221.

Do we have to pay for high school sports?
Participation Requirements: Student must be passing 5 classes
Current Physical Participation Fees: $40.00 for first extracurricular activity $70.00 for two or more activities.
Students who qualify for free or reduced school lunch shall be granted a 50% reduction of the participation fees. More information can be found on the District’s Athletics page.

Do you offer a Pre-K or Headstart program?
Great Falls Public School Preschool currently serves 4-year old children (must be 4 on or before September 10) whose families live in the areas of Giant Springs, Longfellow, Mountain View, Sunnyside, Valley View, West, and Whittier Elementary Schools. It also serves 3-5 year old children identified through Part B IDEA. Opportunities Inc. offers a Headstart Program. For more information on the Headstart Program call (406) 453-5415.

Do you offer resources for students with special needs?
Yes, GFPS offers various services for students with special needs. More information can be found on the District’s Student Services webpage or by calling (406)268-6027.

Does Malmstrom have a base/DOD School?
No, but the majority of the students attend Loy Elementary School, North Middle School, and C.M. Russell High School.

Great Falls is very far away from most other cities and towns. How does this effect school functions and competitions?
At the high school level, extracurricular activities travel all over the state. Charter buses are used to travel throughout the state of Montana. Choirs, bands and orchestras also travel across the Northwest. More information can be found in Board policies 2320 and 2320R.

How do academics in Montana compare to other states?
For information of the State of Montana’s academic performance, you can access this information on the Office of Public Instruction website.

If my child is an athlete and comes to the school mid-season, does he/she still have the option to play?
Yes, your child is welcome to play, but it will be challenging to catch up and be a thriving part of the team. Some high school teams would require a tryout and it may not be possible to make the team. Contact the school for open gym schedules and practice schedules. More information can be found on the District’s Athletics page.

If there is a school closure, where would that information be found?
The Great Falls Public Schools rarely close due to weather. Please review the District’s Student Safety page.

Is Kindergarten offered full day or half day?
Great Falls Public Schools offer a full day kindergarten program.

Is there a gifted and talented program?
Yes, Great Falls Public Schools offers Extended Curriculum Services for students identified as “gifted or talented”. More information can be found on the District’s Extended Curriculum Services webpage.

Is there a School Liaison Contact?
Yes, Lisa Sapp is the School Liaison/EFMP-FS Coordinator. She is located on Malmstrom Air Force Base and can be reached by phone at (406) 217-1173 or by e-mail at lisa.sapp.1@us.af.mil

My child has a medical condition that requires medication. Is there a nurse available?
A student who must take any medicine during the school day which requires school personnel to assist in the self-administration of medication must bring a written request from his or her parent and the medicine in its original, properly labeled container, to the school office. A physician’s form is needed for prescription medications and long-term medications. Forms are available in the school office and through a physician. More information can be found in the student handbook and Board policy 3416.

What are afterschool care options?
The District has an after school assistance program called HANDS (Heroes and Neighbors Down at the School). The HANDS child care program provides before and after school supervision for school aged children 5-12 years old. For more information call (406) 268-6932. MAFB also provides after school help through their Youth Activities Center. The MAFB Youth Center can be reached at (406) 731-4634.

What are my private/Christian school options?
Great Falls does have several options for a Christian based education. Central Catholic High School, (406) 216-3344; St. Patrick's Academy, (406) 452-0551; Holy Spirit Catholic School, (406) 761-5575; Foothills Community Christian School (406) 452-5276; and Treasure State Academy, (406) 727-5133.

What are our transportation options?
Buses run from MAFB to Loy Elementary School, North Middle School, and C.M. Russell High School. More information can be found on the District’s Transportation page.

What are the average class sizes?
Depending upon the class and school, class sizes can range from 20-30. Very few are over 30.

What are the breakfast and lunch options? Prices?
Prices can fluctuate from year to year. Breakfast is offered at certain schools throughout the district. To check your child’s school menus and prices, visit the District’s School Food Service webpage.

What are the grade tiers?
Elementary School consists of grades K-6, Middle School 7-8, and High School is 9-12. Board policy 2105R.

What determines if my child meets the Montana/Great Falls Public Schools standards for a gifted child?
A variety of data including achievement, cognitive ability, attribute observations, and portfolio materials will be used to identify students who demonstrate or show potential gifts and talents. Student referrals will be accepted from parents and/or teachers. All parent referrals will be honored with a discussion based on data. For more information, visit the District’s Student Services webpage.

What if my child does not have an IEP but needs additional support in the classroom?
Every school strives to help every student. If your child needs added support please let his school counselor know and they will provide your child with the help they need. For more information, visit the District’s Student Services webpage.

What kind of physical education is provided in the schools?
Physical Education and Health Enhancement are offered in all grade levels:
· Elementary
· Middle School
· High School

What kind of supplies will students require for school?
Currently the school supply lists are posted on the District’s webpage. Each elementary school posts their supply list on their webpages as well. In late summer, several of the main stores in Great Falls have hard copies available for shoppers.

What sports camps and other opportunities are available in Great Falls to help my athlete keep up with his/her sport of choice during the off season?
During the summer there are several sports camps at both high schools offered by coaches, the Heisey Youth Center, the Great Falls Community Rec Center, and the Great Falls Soccer Association for elementary and middle school age children. At the high schools, many sports require attendance at open gyms and camps. Please verify with your respective coach to determine what options are available. More information can be found on the District’s Athletics webpage.

What standardized tests will my child take?
State Testing:
· Students participate in the annual Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS) in the spring months.
· Students in Grades 3-8 and 11 will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) tests for Mathematics and English Language Arts in April and May of each year.
· Students in Grades 4, 8, and 10 will participate in the Measured Progress Science assessment in March.
· High School Juniors (Grade 11) can also participated in the ACT test free of charge in April/May of each year.

Formative Benchmarks Tests:
Great Falls Public Schools also utilizes a number of standardized benchmark tests for pretesting, placement, and benchmarking purposes throughout the year. The purpose of these assessments is to identify a student’s area of strengths and areas they need growth, which help teachers identify proper instructional interventions.
· Students in Grades K-6 participate in the NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test three times a year (Fall/Winter/Spring).
· Students in middle and high schools participate in the SMI and ISIP tests twice a year.

District Common Assessments:
These tests are locally created and implemented by classroom teachers as directly aligned to the local curriculum. The assessments are given in content areas or courses typically not covered by the state assessments (i.e. Social Studies, Science, Health/PE, etc.) at various times throughout the year.

What support is available if my child does not speak fluent English?
Great Falls Public Schools works to best meet the needs of English Language Learners, both Limited English Proficient (LEP) and English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The district has established a framework to guide staff in recognizing needs and support available for English Language Learners. Classroom teachers are supported by a part-time ESL teacher and Title Teacher on Special Assignment. For more information, visit the District’s English Language Learner Services webpage.