The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Science. The lowest is 0% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Joliet School
Joliet School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small rural town of Joliet, Montana. It is an elementary school within the Joliet Elementary School District, a standalone PK-5 district that feeds into a separate high school district. The school is embedded in the town’s compact footprint, located within walking distance of Town Hall, the public library, and residential streets. With a modest enrollment that reflects the size of the community, the school draws almost exclusively from the town itself and the surrounding countryside.
The student body is predominantly white, with a very small number of students identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native and as two or more races. About one-third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that points to a mix of household incomes but no extreme concentration of poverty. The school serves a narrow grade band, so older students move on to Joliet High School after fifth grade, but within these early grades, the school is the sole public option in the district.
State testing data is available only in a limited way. For the 2023–24 school year, math and English language arts results were not reported for Joliet School, so there is no information on how students in the tested grades performed in those subjects. Science results, from a separate state assessment, show that roughly one-third of students scored at the proficient level or above. Overall, when compared across all tested subjects, the school’s academic performance places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Carbon County. A parent may want to follow up with the school directly about why math and reading results are absent and what assessment routines are in place for those subjects.
The town of Joliet is a longtime agricultural service hub that has seen relatively stable population numbers over the decades, with a slight uptick in recent estimates. The housing market has appreciated notably, with median home values in the zip code above the state average, though still below national benchmarks given rural Montana’s overall lower prices. A mortgage on a typical home would be a meaningful monthly cost for a median-income household, but rental costs are comparatively lower, making renting a more attainable option. The town itself has very limited commercial services; residents drive to Red Lodge or Billings for most shopping, healthcare, and employment. There is no public transit within town, and the school is close enough to walk from most homes.
Because Joliet School only covers elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available. The district brief turned up no recent bond issues, curriculum overhauls, or other notable changes affecting families. The school operates as a traditional public elementary school with no charter status or magnet program.
For a family considering Joliet, the school offers a small, locally grounded setting where children can walk to school and the town’s civic life is within easy reach. The academic picture is incomplete due to missing math and English language arts test results, and the available science results suggest room for growth. The community is rural, quiet, and dependent on nearby larger towns for many services. Parents who value a tight-knit elementary experience in a compact rural town may find Joliet School a good fit, but those seeking strong test-score evidence or a wider range of academic programming will want to investigate further.
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