The top reported proficiency rate is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Roberts 7-8
Roberts 7-8 is a very small middle school in the rural, unincorporated community of Roberts, Montana. It serves only seventh and eighth graders and is part of the Roberts K-12 Schools district, a tiny district that educates fewer than a hundred students across all grades. The school is located on a single campus that functions as the community’s primary civic gathering point, situated along a two-lane highway in a sparse, low-density settlement.
The student body is small, with fewer than twenty students enrolled across the two grades. The vast majority of students are white, and a small number are Hispanic. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of a town where the employed population is very small and the largest industries are construction, other services, and mining. The school serves a community that has experienced population decline over the past decade, and the housing stock shows a high vacancy rate, suggesting limited new development pressure.
State testing data for math and English language arts was reported but showed no students scoring at the proficient level. The number of students tested was very small, and the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades placed it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Carbon County. Science assessment results were suppressed due to the small number of test-takers, a common practice when student counts are low enough to risk identifying individuals. A parent considering this school should be aware that the academic performance data reflects a very small cohort, and the reported proficiency rates are low. It would be reasonable to discuss directly with the school how instruction and student progress are assessed in such a small setting.
The school serves only seventh and eighth graders, so there is no graduation rate to report. The district as a whole is a single K-12 campus, and the middle school grades are part of that continuum. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not reported.
The community context is important for understanding this school. Roberts is a very small, unincorporated rural place with a declining population and a sparse built environment. Housing values in the area are above the national median, and the local economy is tiny, with most employed residents working in construction or other services. The school itself is the primary civic anchor in town, and the district operates on a four-day school week, though the date of that change was not confirmed in available records. No recent district-level changes such as property-tax shifts, referendums, or curriculum overhauls were found in public sources.
For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is that Roberts 7-8 is an extremely small middle school in a rural, declining community. The academic performance data shows low proficiency rates on state assessments, though the very small number of students tested means that a single student’s result can have a large effect on the reported rate. A parent may want to discuss directly with the school how instruction is tailored to such a small group and what supports are available for students who need additional help. The school’s size means students receive a high degree of individual attention, but the range of course offerings and extracurriculars is likely limited compared to larger schools. The community offers little in the way of amenities or employment, and most families would need to commute to Red Lodge or Billings for work, shopping, and medical care.
See more original research from School Decision →