The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on E F Duvall 7-8
E F Duvall 7-8 serves as the middle school for Deer Lodge, a small town in Powell County that has seen decades of population decline. The town’s economy, historically tied to railroad operations and now centered on corrections, healthcare, and heritage tourism, provides the context in which this school operates. The school itself is a two-grade institution serving only seventh and eighth graders, with a student body that is predominantly white. The majority of students come from families with lower incomes, based on the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
On state assessments, the school’s results vary by subject. In English language arts, a substantial share of students met or exceeded the proficiency standard. Science performance was similar, with roughly two out of every five students reaching proficiency. Math tells a different story, with a notably smaller share of students scoring at the proficient level. This gap between math and the other subjects is the clearest signal in the academic data, and a parent considering this school would want to understand what interventions or supports are in place for math instruction.
Because E F Duvall covers only middle grades, there are no graduation rate figures, no Advanced Placement or dual-credit offerings, and no career pathway programs to report. The available data also did not include chronic absenteeism rates, information on teacher staffing, or course access details. These gaps do not necessarily reflect on the school’s quality, but a family may wish to ask the school directly about attendance patterns, class sizes, and elective or enrichment options for students.
The comparison to other districts in Powell County was not possible because the cohort of schools with comparable data was too small, so there is no local benchmark to place these proficiency rates against. The school sits within the Deer Lodge Elem district, which covers the town and its immediate surroundings. No recent district-level changes in curriculum, property taxes, or facilities were found in public records.
The peer environment is shaped by the town’s size and economic makeup. Deer Lodge has been losing population for decades, and the student body reflects the community’s demographics. For families, this means a small school where students likely know each other across grades and where the town’s institutions, the prison, the hospital, the historic sites, are part of the everyday context. Housing values in the area are below the state median, which may be a factor for families relocating.
In sum, E F Duvall 7-8 is a small, rural middle school with a clear split in academic performance: English and science are relative bright spots, while math proficiency is low. The absence of program data and comparison benchmarks leaves questions about what enrichment or support is available, particularly in math. A parent would benefit from a direct conversation with the school about how it addresses math learning and what the day-to-day experience looks like for students in these two grades.
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