It’s the little school that could. Deer Park was recently named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School.

For Deer Park, a rural Columbia Falls K-8 school with under 200 students, many years of building up the math and language arts programs were validated. National Blue Ribbon Schools have their state’s highest graduation rates and the top 15% of English and mathematics performances in state assessments. Only three Montana schools were selected for the honor this year.

Superintendent and Principal of Deer Park School Sheri Modderman attributed Deer Park’s success to small class sizes and teachers that are happy to put in the effort to make sure every student is met where they are.

“We have a very dedicated teaching staff and a very caring and nurturing support staff,” she said.

In the middle school, Language Arts Teacher Ryan Rague focuses heavily on the writing process, so by the time students move on to high school, it’s easy for them. In math, Deer Park graduates go on ready to take higher level classes and pass them with flying colors. Modderman reported that when state averages in reading and math were 30-40%, Deer Park sat around 60-70%. Support staff, such as Food Service Director Tana Anderson, give Deer Park students extra care and attention outside of the classroom and help build a sense of community.

Last spring, when Deer Park learned of its nomination from the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools and the Department of Education, Modderman assembled a team - herself, Title I Coordinator Pam Clark and Language Arts Teacher Rague - and they began filling out the in-depth application.

“It was really quite a process, it was not for the weak to do this. We ended up with a 25-page document,” Modderman said.

As part of the application, the team interviewed students and community members about their experiences with Deer Park.

“One of the biggest things we heard was the sense of community, the sense of family that we have here,” Modderman said. “People want to come in here, the kids feel safe and secure and happy here, they want to come to school.”

The school has also had years of success in athletics as well, winning multiple small school basketball titles over the years under coach Dan Block, who was also principal for years. Block has retired, but still coaches at the school.

Modderman anticipates that Deer Park will see the Blue Ribbon award reflected in their enrollment requests. Last year, the school topped out at 199 students, which Modderman said felt very full. This year, enrollment sits at around 175. For the lower grade levels, Deer Park already has a waitlist for out-of-district students.

“I am most proud of the time, effort and dedication I get from the staff, from our paraeducators all the way up to our office staff and our teachers. Everyone gives everything they have,” Modderman said.

In November, she and Clark will travel to D.C. to receive Deer Park’s national recognition.