The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in Science. The lowest is 0% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hellgate Middle School
Hellgate Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in Missoula, Montana, as part of the Hellgate Elementary School District. The school is located in a mid-sized city that blends university-town character with regional medical, retail, and government-service functions. Missoula’s historic lumber industry largely disappeared by the 1990s, shifting the economy toward education, healthcare, and services. The University of Montana campus sits near downtown, contributing to pedestrian activity in the core area. The city has extensive parkland, trails, and open-space conservation land, with the Clark Fork River running through downtown. Missoula has experienced steady population growth and is the second-most populous city in Montana.
The school has an enrollment that is small for a middle school serving two grades. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students identifying as two or more races, and a small share identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native. Other racial and ethnic groups are present in very small numbers.
State testing data for math and English language arts was reported for the most recent school year, but the proficiency rate was reported at zero percent, which may indicate that the assessment results for those subjects were not available or applicable for this school in that year. Without those results, it is not possible to evaluate the school’s core academic performance in reading and math from the state’s standard metric. Science testing data was available, and roughly half of students scored at the proficient or above level in science. When placed among other school districts in Missoula County, Hellgate Middle School’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to ask the school directly for more detail about how its students perform in math and reading, particularly given the missing assessment data for those subjects.
The school offers no high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism was also not available. Information on specific programs, course access, and staffing was not provided. The district brief found no recent parent-relevant changes that met the bar for a lasting impact.
For a parent considering this school, the housing market in Missoula is expensive relative to national benchmarks. The typical home value and rent are above the national median, and the area’s price-to-income ratio suggests that homeownership is a stretch for many households. The estimated monthly mortgage payment would be a significant share of the median household income, while the typical rent is more modest in relation to income.
Hellgate Middle School is a small, two-grade public school in a growing university town with a diversified economy. The available data shows science proficiency in the middle range and no usable state results for math or English language arts, placing the school’s measured academic profile below the midpoint when compared with other districts in the county. Families who want a clear picture of student learning in reading and math will need to seek that information directly from the school. The surrounding community offers a lively downtown, access to outdoor recreation, and a stable job base anchored by the university and healthcare sector, but the housing market is expensive by national standards.
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