Original Research by School Decision on Lodge Grass 7-8
Lodge Grass 7-8 is a small public middle school serving only seventh and eighth grades. It operates under the Lodge Grass Elem district and sits on the western bluffs above the town of Lodge Grass, a compact, rural community on the Crow Indian Reservation in Big Horn County, Montana. The school occupies the same campus that has anchored the community for generations, and its small size means the student body is intimate by any measure.
The student population is almost entirely Native American, reflecting the town’s demographics: Lodge Grass is a predominantly Crow (Apsáalooke) community. The school serves a very small number of students, and every one of them qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that speaks to the economic conditions of the area. The town’s economy has historically depended on ranching, both tribal and non-tribal, and today the community faces limited commercial activity, population decline, and the challenges common to small reservation towns. There are no major employers beyond the school district itself, tribal government offices located in nearby Crow Agency, and area ranches.
State assessment data for Lodge Grass 7-8 is suppressed for all subjects—math, English language arts, and science. While the school did administer the Smarter Balanced assessments and the Montana Science Assessment, the proficiency rates are not reported. This is a common occurrence when the number of students tested is small enough that releasing results could identify individual students. The state does report the number of students tested, but without proficiency rates, it is not possible to gauge the school’s academic performance from public data. A parent or guardian interested in student achievement would need to ask the school directly for classroom-level information or for any alternative measures the district uses.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Similarly, no data on chronic absenteeism, course access, or staffing were available through the sources reviewed. The comparison fact-set, which places this school relative to other districts in Big Horn County, could not compute a proficiency index or other metrics because the school’s own data was missing, so there is no external benchmark to offer.
Housing in the area is modest relative to the broader state and national markets. The town’s housing stock is not expensive, and the area is not one that has seen recent growth or new development. Lodge Grass’s population has declined over the past several decades, and the school’s enrollment is consistent with that trend: it is a small school for a small, stable community.
For families considering Lodge Grass 7-8, the defining characteristics are its size, its setting, and its student composition. It offers a close-knit environment where students are likely to be known personally by staff. The school is part of a district that has not made recent headlines for levies, bond issues, or curriculum shifts, according to the searchable record. The community itself is quiet, rural, and deeply rooted in Crow culture and ranching heritage. Families who value a small, culturally grounded middle school experience, and who are comfortable with the limited public academic data, may find that this school fits their needs. Those who want to compare test scores or explore program offerings will need to seek that information directly from the school.
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