The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hays-lodge Pole High Sch
Hays-Lodge Pole High School serves the far northeastern corner of Montana, operating as the sole high school within the Hays-Lodge Pole K-12 Schls district. The school sits in the small community of Hays, a census-designated place on the southern end of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The community is primarily inhabited by Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) people, and the texture of daily life is rural, tight-knit, and car-dependent, with no traditional downtown and few commercial amenities. Tribal government and the school district itself are the area’s primary institutional employers.
The high school enrolls a student body that is nearly entirely American Indian or Alaska Native. A very small number of Hispanic students attend as well. Every single student in the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that signals the deep economic challenges facing the community. The median household income and homeownership rate in Hays are well below national averages, and the school’s enrollment of somewhat under a hundred students for grades nine through twelve reflects the community’s modest overall population.
State testing data for the 2023-24 school year showed no students scoring at the proficient or advanced level in math, English language arts, or science. This is a serious soft spot. The school’s overall proficiency index, which takes the average across tested subjects and grades, placed it in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in Blaine County. A parent considering this school will want to ask the school directly about its academic improvement strategies, how it supports students in reaching grade-level benchmarks, and what interventions it has in place. The numbers are a clear signal that academic outcomes, as measured by state assessments, are an area of significant concern.
Because the school is a high school, families will also want to know about graduation rates, postsecondary pathways, and course access. The data does not include a four-year graduation rate for this school, and there is no information on AP, dual-credit, or career and technical education offerings. Whether these pathways exist and how students fare after graduation are open questions. A parent should request that information directly from the district office or school counseling staff.
The school’s environment is shaped heavily by its setting. Hays has experienced slow, organic population growth over the past decade without major new housing or commercial development. The local economy is dominated by public administration, construction, and educational services. The community’s civic anchors include St. Paul’s Mission Church, the Hays Pow Wow grounds, and the school itself. There is no public transit and no public library identified in the surrounding area. For a family living in or moving to Hays, the high school is the central secondary institution, and the community’s small scale means that students and families are likely to know each other well.
The district brief turned up no notable recent changes to district policy, leadership, or programming. This lack of publicly available information does not mean nothing is happening, but for a family evaluating the school, it means the district has not made its recent strategic moves easy to find. A direct inquiry to the district office is the most reliable way to learn about any upcoming changes.
In summary, Hays-Lodge Pole High School serves a deeply rural, economically disadvantaged, and predominantly Native American community. Its state assessment results are very low across the board, and data on graduation rates, course access, and student supports is absent from the public record. A family considering this school should prioritize a visit and conversations with school leadership about academic support, postsecondary planning, and the specific pathways offered. The school’s small size and close community may be strengths for families who value that kind of environment, but the academic data warrants careful follow-up.
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