Dear Families and Community Members,
We want to take a moment to share an update on how our district is performing academically, how enrollment trends are shifting locally and statewide, and what recent staffing data tells us about our schools. These updates are intended to provide transparency, celebrate our successes, and give important context as we plan for the future.
When we review our state testing data alongside role-alike schools across Montana, the results are encouraging. Among comparable districts statewide, our students rank in the top 25th percentile across all tested areas. This is a significant accomplishment and reflects the hard work of our students, staff, and families. Compared to 48 other similar districts, we are 6th in English Language Arts, 8th in Math, and 5th in Science in the percentage of proficient students on the statewide assessments.
We also want to provide context around enrollment trends, as these are often closely tied to community growth and school planning. Despite new construction in the area, county reports show that overall student enrollment is declining across nearly all educational sectors, including public, private, and homeschool options. Families are having fewer children, and Montana’s ongoing affordability challenges are affecting the ability of younger families to move into the area. This pattern is not unique to our district and is being seen across much of the western half of the state.
At the same time, a consistent trend in our community with other communities is the transfer of older students into the district, typically beginning in middle school and continuing through eventual enrollment in the high school district. This aligns with what other local administrators are experiencing, as families with older students are often further along in their careers and better positioned to afford housing in the area. This shift helps explain why enrollment patterns can look different across grade levels.
Finally, recent work experience and staffing reports show that our district benefits from a highly experienced staff and well educated staff. Compared with role-alike schools across Montana, we employ a more veteran workforce, and a higher rate of teachers with masters degrees. This indicates strong staff retention for a district of our size. This stability matters. Experienced educators provide continuity, mentorship, and institutional knowledge that directly benefit students and strengthen our schools over time.
We are proud of the academic success of our students, grateful for the dedication of our staff, and committed to ongoing communication with our community. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to ensure a strong and sustainable future for our schools.
Attached Documents For Reference