The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Arlee High School
Arlee High School serves grades nine through twelve in the small unincorporated community of Arlee, Montana, on the Flathead Reservation in the Jocko Valley of Lake County. The school is part of the Arlee Joint School District and sits within the town itself, integrated into the rural community rather than isolated on a distant campus. Arlee is a bicultural place where Salish and non-Native residents share the corridor of US Route 93; the annual Fourth of July pow wow and rodeo, the Nkwusm Salish Immersion School, and the nearby Garden of One Thousand Buddhas anchor local identity. The built environment is low-density, with homes and small commercial establishments spread along the highway, and walkability is limited by the rural settlement pattern. Street life is minimal day-to-day but concentrates during community events.
The high school enrolls a modest number of students spread fairly evenly across the four grade levels. The student body is predominantly American Indian or Alaska Native, with a substantial white minority and smaller shares of students identifying as Hispanic and as two or more races. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the high poverty level of the community. Home values in the Arlee ZIP code area, according to publicly reported data, are above the national median, though the local housing market has seen a slight pullback recently. For a family considering a move, renting may be more affordable than buying a home in this area, and the community’s rural character means that commuting by car is necessary for most daily needs.
State assessment results for the grades typically tested across Montana are not available for this high school, because the data reported covers only grades three through eight. The proficiency index that appears in a comparison of Lake County districts shows this school at the bottom of that set, but that index is based on grades the school does not serve. A parent looking for evidence of academic achievement at Arlee High School will need to ask the school directly for its own metrics, such as end-of-course exam results, ACT scores, or class-level performance data. The available record does not contain a graduation rate, chronic absenteeism information, or details on course offerings, staffing, or discipline. The district brief turned up no recent major changes—no new programs, referendums, or policy shifts of lasting note were found in public sources.
Given the absence of the usual performance data, the strongest signal about this school is its context: a small, rural high school on a tribal reservation, serving a community with deep cultural roots and high economic need. The school is likely a central institution in the lives of Arlee families, and the close-knit setting may appeal to those who want a school where their child is known and where community ties are strong. A parent interested in academic outcomes, college readiness, or program depth should contact the school to learn about offerings such as dual credit, career and technical education, or Advanced Placement, since none of that information was available in the data reviewed here. The same applies to student support services and post-graduation paths. Without those details, this profile is best understood as a sketch of a place and its community, not a full picture of the school’s instructional quality or student experience.
See more original research from School Decision →