The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Drummond 7-8
Drummond 7-8 is a small grade-span school serving only seventh and eighth graders in the rural ranching community of Drummond, Montana. It is part of the Drummond Elem district. The school is one of a few buildings that together serve all of Drummond’s K-12 students within the same small town, integrated into the community’s daily life rather than set on a separated campus.
The entire student body consists of about thirty students, split between two grades. The student population is largely white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and a similarly modest share of students who identify as two or more races. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported; a parent who wants to understand how the school serves those populations would need to take that up directly with the school.
State testing data for the most recent year available shows that roughly a fifth of students hit the proficient or above mark in both math and English language arts, based on the Smarter Balanced Assessment. The science test results for that year were suppressed in the public data, a move states often make when the tested group is very small, so no proficiency figure is available for science. A school of this size produces small testing cohorts, meaning a single year’s performance can vary more than it would in a larger setting; a parent may want to ask the school how it tracks growth from year to year and how it supports students who are below the proficient bar.
Drummond 7-8 has no program offerings included in the available data. The school environment measures such as discipline rates, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism were also not reported. Because the school serves only two middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
The town of Drummond sits along Interstate 90 about fifty miles southeast of Missoula and is defined by cattle ranching, agriculture, and its identity as a highway stop. The school is a natural anchor in this setting, and the local high school’s athletic success points to a community that turns out for its students. The town’s population saw a long decline but a recent estimate suggests modest growth. Housing values in the area sit well below the state median, making this one of the more affordable markets in Montana by that measure, though the national mortgage rate context means monthly costs are still a consideration for many households.
The comparison set that would place this school relative to other districts in Granite County could not produce usable results because too few comparable schools or districts were available in that rural county to allow a meaningful comparison. That is less a verdict on this school than a reflection of how sparse the local educational landscape is.
For a family considering Drummond 7-8, the bottom line is straightforward. This is a very small middle school in a very small, tight-knit agricultural town. The academic proficiency numbers on state tests are lower than many families would hope to see, and the absence of reported data on special education, discipline, and programs makes it hard to assess full support structures without contacting the school. The school is affordable from a housing perspective and deeply embedded in a community where the school and its events are a central part of town life. A parent who values a small environment where everyone knows each other and who is willing to engage directly with the school about academic support could find this a workable fit. A parent looking for a broader range of course options or a track record of high test scores would likely need to look elsewhere.
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