The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lima High School
Lima High School serves grades nine through twelve as the sole high school within the Lima K-12 Schools district, a tiny rural system in southwestern Montana. The school is exceedingly small, with a student body that numbers in the tens rather than the hundreds. The student population is predominantly white, with a small Asian representation. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic circumstances of the community.
The town of Lima is a railroad-origin settlement that has contracted over time. Its population has been declining, and the economy centers on a handful of traveler-serving businesses, surrounding multigenerational ranches, and the school itself. The town is a highway stop on Interstate 15 and a gateway to outdoor recreation, including the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and Continental Divide Trail access. The built environment is low-density and oriented toward travelers rather than pedestrian activity. No major employers operate in town beyond those already named.
State testing data that would normally appear for a high school was not present in the available information. The assessment results on record cover grades three through eight, which do not apply to this school. There was no graduation rate reported. The lack of typical academic outcome measures means the available data does not provide a direct picture of student proficiency or high school completion at Lima High School. A family considering this school would want to ask the school directly about its academic performance, college and career readiness offerings, and graduation rates.
The district itself is under financial stress. As reported in local news and school review sources, the Lima K-12 Schools system faced a budget deficit driven by extremely low districtwide enrollment, which forced major budget cuts. The district’s per-student revenue has been declining, and its enrollment across all grades is very small. This structural challenge directly affects what courses and resources the high school can offer. For a student body as small as Lima High School’s, course offerings are necessarily limited by the number of available teachers and the funding to support them.
The school operates as a Class C school in Montana’s classification system, which groups very small schools. With only a handful of students in each grade, the peer environment is intimate by necessity. Students who thrive in a setting where they know everyone and are known by every staff member may find this a good fit. Those seeking a wide array of elective courses, Advanced Placement, or extensive extracurricular programs would need to verify what is available, given the district’s constrained resources.
The town does not appear to be growing, and no new housing development or commercial construction was found in research. Housing values in the area are lower than the state average, but affordability relative to local incomes would need to be examined case by case. The school sits within or adjacent to the town center, given the town’s tiny geographic footprint.
In short, Lima High School offers a very small, rural setting with a high-poverty student population, a district facing ongoing financial pressure, and few published academic performance metrics. Families would need to investigate what the school can provide in terms of curriculum, college preparation, and student support, and whether the intimate scale and community context match their child’s needs.
See more original research from School Decision →