The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bonner 6-8
Bonner 6-8 sits in the small, historically industrial community of Bonner, about a short drive east of Missoula. It serves grades six through eight and is the only middle-grade building in the Bonner Elementary School District. The school’s enrollment is small for a middle school, with each grade roughly the same size. The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of American Indian students and a very small share of Hispanic students; the school reports almost no Asian, Black, or multiracial enrollment. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that aligns with the area’s transition from a company mill town to a modest residential community.
On state assessments, Bonner 6-8’s overall proficiency across math, English language arts, and science sits below the midpoint relative to other districts in Missoula County. The school’s math proficiency is markedly lower than its ELA proficiency, and science results fall between the two. The school uses Montana’s Smarter Balanced assessments for math and ELA and the Montana Science Assessment for eighth-grade science. Participation rates were not reported in the data, so it is not possible to say how many eligible students actually took the tests. Any reader interested in a more direct picture of how students perform year to year might want to ask the school about participation and about trends, since the available data covers only a single year.
Because Bonner 6-8 is a middle school, it does not generate a graduation rate. The data also does not include chronic absenteeism rates or discipline figures, so those aspects of school climate are not part of this account. The district brief turned up no recent major changes such as boundary adjustments, program overhauls, or leadership turnover that would have a lasting impact for families.
The community of Bonner itself has a distinct history. It began as a company town built around one of Montana’s first large sawmills, which ran continuously for many decades before closing. Since the closure, the area has shifted to a residential and commuting base for Missoula. The Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers run through the community, and a Superfund restoration plan on the former mill site includes redevelopment goals. Housing values in the zip code serving Bonner are higher than the state average and the national average, which is notable for a small town and may reflect its proximity to Missoula’s housing market. National affordability measures suggest that purchasing a home here requires a substantial share of median household income, and rent consumes a modest share.
Bonner 6-8 occupies a specific niche: a small, economically diverse middle school in a close-knit former mill town on the edge of a growing metro area. Its academic results are an area where families may want to look into further detail, particularly in math, where proficiency is lowest. The school’s size means students are known individually, but the range of course offerings and elective programs was not available in the data. Any family evaluating this school would want to understand what supports are in place for students who are not yet at grade level and what advanced or enrichment options exist for those who are. Those details are best gathered directly from the school or district.
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