The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Fergus High School
Fergus High School sits in Lewistown, a small regional hub at the geographic center of Montana that functions as the county seat of Fergus County and a supply center for surrounding rural communities. The school serves grades nine through twelve and is the only high school operated by the Fergus H S district, a separate high school district that draws students from the area. The student body numbers in the mid-hundreds, small enough that most families would recognize it as a close-knit high school. The student composition is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of Native American, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a middle-to-lower income profile typical of many rural Montana communities.
State assessment data is not available for Fergus High School. The Smarter Balanced Assessments and the Montana Science Assessment are administered in grades three through eight, not at the high school level, so there are no proficiency results to report for math, English language arts, or science. The graduation rate was also not present in the data reviewed. A parent looking for academic outcome measures would want to ask the school directly about college enrollment rates, ACT or SAT performance, and how many students graduate within four years. The comparison that does exist places the school’s overall proficiency index in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Fergus County, but that comparison is based on a metric that is not applicable to a high school that does not administer the tested assessments, so it should not be taken as a reflection of the school’s academic standing.
What stands out from the district’s recent public record is a pattern of investment and curriculum evolution. Voters approved consecutive general fund levies for the high school district in back-to-back years, a clear signal of sustained community financial support. Fergus High School expanded its Career and Technical Education offerings, adding courses in welding, healthcare sciences, and computer science, funded through state grants and local dollars. The district also expanded its dual credit program through partnerships with Montana State University Northern and the University of Providence, giving students the chance to earn college credits while still in high school. A one-to-one device program now provides Chromebooks to all students in grades three through twelve, integrating technology into daily classroom work. Facility improvements have been made as well, with renovations to science classrooms and CTE spaces completed recently, and a building reserve levy approved for the elementary district that also supports shared facilities.
Lewistown itself offers a small-town setting with a traditional Main Street downtown, a trail system, parks, and annual events such as the Chokecherry Festival. The city’s housing market is moderate relative to national benchmarks, and the area has not seen rapid recent growth. The school’s location on Casino Creek Drive places it within walking and short driving distance of much of the community.
For a family considering Fergus High School, the decision will hinge less on state test scores, which are not produced at this level, and more on the fit between the school’s pathways and a student’s interests. The expanded CTE offerings and dual credit options give students concrete routes into trades, healthcare, and computing, and the small size means most students can participate in activities and get individual attention. The absence of a reported graduation rate is a gap worth filling with a direct question to the school. The community’s willingness to pass levies and fund improvements suggests that the district has local backing for its direction, and the school appears to be evolving toward more career-connected learning and digital access. A parent who values a rural high school with growing program options and a stable community context may find this a solid match.
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