The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Science. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Frank Brattin Middle Schl
Frank Brattin Middle School serves students in sixth through eighth grade and is part of the Colstrip Elem district in southeastern Montana. The school sits in the town of Colstrip, a community built around coal mining and coal-fired electricity generation. The town’s population has been declining since its boomtown peak during the 1970s and 1980s, and the 2020 closure of two of the four power plant units has created economic uncertainty. The district itself has not reported any significant recent changes, but the broader contraction of the local coal industry may carry implications for school funding and community stability over time.
On state assessments, Frank Brattin Middle School shows a mixed academic picture. In math, fewer than one in five students scored at the proficient level on the Smarter Balanced Assessment. In English language arts, roughly three in ten students met the proficiency bar, and on the Montana Science Assessment, about one in three did. These rates are modest in absolute terms. However, when compared across districts in Rosebud County, the school’s overall proficiency index lands above the midpoint of the three districts for which data is available. That relative strength suggests that while achievement levels are not high, they are not the lowest in the area. Parents may want to ask the school about specific academic interventions and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
The student body is small for a middle school and fairly diverse. About half of the students are White, with a substantial share identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, a smaller number identifying with two or more races, and a still smaller share identifying as Hispanic. Nearly half of all students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch, reflecting a high proportion of low‑income households in the community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so it is not possible to assess how the school serves those groups. A parent may wish to follow up on those supports directly.
The housing market in Colstrip is notably more affordable than the state as a whole. Home values are well below the Montana benchmark, though prices have softened in the past year. Rents have been rising gradually, as they have nationally. The town’s economic base is narrow, anchored by the Rosebud Mine and the remaining power plant units, and the long‑term trajectory is uncertain. For a family moving into the area, the low cost of housing may be a practical draw, but the lack of growth and the contraction of major employers mean this is not a community that is expanding or adding new residential development.
Frank Brattin Middle School does not publish program offerings, course access, or staffing ratios in the available data. There is no information on discipline rates or attendance patterns. Those gaps make it harder for a parent to evaluate the day‑to‑day environment or the breadth of academic pathways. Given the small size of the school, it is likely that course options are limited compared to a larger middle school, but that is an inference, not a fact from the record. The locale brief describes Colstrip as having substantial green space, a network of bike paths, and a recreation center, but the town has no traditional downtown commercial district and minimal street life. Schools and civic facilities sit within the town’s compact footprint rather than on a separate campus.
This is a school that serves a community facing economic transition. Its test results are moderate and sit above the midpoint among the county’s districts, but they are not high in absolute terms. The student body is economically diverse, and the school’s relative position within the county may reflect the challenges shared by the region. A parent considering this school should inquire about academic support structures, special education and English learner services, and the range of elective or enrichment offerings for middle‑grade students. The housing is inexpensive, but the town’s population and industrial base are shrinking, and the district’s long‑term stability is tied to the uncertain future of its primary employers.
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