The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Math. The lowest is 47% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Augusta 7-8
Augusta 7-8 is a small public middle school serving grades seven and eight as part of the Augusta Elem district in rural Lewis and Clark County, Montana. The school’s enrollment is very small, and its student body is predominantly white with a small Hispanic share. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the lower-income context of the community.
On state assessments, a majority of students met Montana’s proficiency standard in math, while just under half did so in English language arts. Science results were suppressed due to a very small testing count, a common occurrence at schools of this size. Among the handful of districts in Lewis and Clark County that reported test results, this school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades stood above the midpoint. For a middle school of this scale, the math performance in particular is a clear strength.
Augusta itself is an unincorporated ranching community that serves as a gateway to the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Scapegoat Wilderness areas. Its economy is anchored in cattle ranching, the US Forest Service (Augusta Ranger District), and small-scale outfitting and recreation businesses. The town has a historic Main Street with original buildings, but street life is limited outside annual events such as the Augusta American Legion Rodeo. Population growth has been minimal, with no major housing developments identified. Typical home values in the area are moderate relative to Montana’s statewide median, and the town’s housing stock is small. There is no public transit.
The Augusta Elem district, which also includes an elementary school, has experienced a decline in per-student revenue over recent years, a meaningful fiscal contraction for a district already spending below the state median. Sustained revenue erosion can affect programming and class resources, and a family may want to ask the school about how it has managed staffing and course offerings under tighter budgets.
Because Augusta 7-8 serves only two grade levels, many of the metrics used to evaluate larger schools do not apply here. There is no graduation rate, no chronic absenteeism data, and no discipline or staffing information provided. The school’s academic results are limited to a single year’s testing, so trends are not available. The absence of special population counts, such as special education or English learner enrollment, also leaves a gap in understanding the full support landscape.
For a family considering this school, the core takeaway is a rural middle school with strong math performance relative to its county peers, a very small peer group, and a community that is agrarian, stable in size, and remote. The district’s fiscal tightening is worth noting, and the lack of broader data means a parent should plan to visit and ask directly about extracurriculars, elective options, and how the school prepares students for high school. This is a school that fits a family seeking a small, close-knit rural setting and who values the outdoor access and quiet pace of life that Augusta offers.
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