The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Alberton Middle School
Alberton Middle School serves grades six through eight in the small town of Alberton, Montana, a community with a deep railroad history and a compact, walkable layout where the school buildings sit close together and connect by a tunnel. The middle school is part of the Alberton K-12 Schools district, and its enrollment is small enough that each grade level holds roughly the same modest number of students. The student body is predominantly white, with small representations of Black, Hispanic, and American Indian students. Every student in the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of concentrated economic need that families should consider alongside the school’s academic profile.
On state assessments, the share of students meeting proficiency in math and English language arts falls well below the average across districts in Mineral County. In math, about one in six students scored proficient; in English language arts, about one in four did. Science results were suppressed because the number of test-takers was too small to report reliably—a common situation in a school this size. The proficiency index across all tested subjects places Alberton Middle School in the bottom quarter among the county’s districts. A parent looking closely at these numbers may want to ask the school what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards, and whether any targeted interventions have been tried.
Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to consider. No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, course access, or staffing ratios, so a family interested in how the school tracks attendance or what elective and enrichment offerings exist would need to inquire directly. The district itself reported little in the way of recent changes or initiatives, suggesting a stable operation with no major restructuring or program expansions on the record.
The housing market in Alberton is a notable point. Home values in the area are above the state average and well above the national average, which is unusual for a town of this size and economic base. The town has no major private employers documented; most jobs are in the public sector or likely involve a commute to Missoula, a roughly half-hour drive east. For a family moving to Alberton, the cost of housing relative to local wages and the limited job opportunities within the town are practical considerations. The town itself is small, with a few civic anchors—a park, a community center in the old railroad depot, a food bank, a farmers’ market—but not much in the way of retail or nightlife.
Alberton Middle School, then, is a very small, high-poverty school in a quiet rural town where housing is surprisingly expensive. Academically, its test results lag behind other Mineral County districts. Families considering this school should weigh the close-knit, small-school environment and the low student-to-teacher ratio that likely accompanies an enrollment of thirty-six against the academic performance challenges and the absence of publicly available data on programs and supports. A direct conversation with the principal or a visit to the school would fill in the gaps this profile cannot.
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