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Excellent

#33 of 603 schools in MT

Top 5% in state

Harlowton High School

High School · Harlowton K-12

PO Box 288, Harlowton, MT 59036

Enrollment

70

Student-Teacher

10:1

Score

8.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Harlowton

#2 of 2

public schools

Montana high schools

#9 of 141

In district

#2 of 2

Harlowton K-12

Academic growth

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Harlowton High School

Harlowton High School is a public high school in Harlowton, MT, part of the Harlowton K-12. The school serves approximately 70 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 94.7th percentile among MT schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 25% proficiency in math and 42% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $50,859, where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a remote rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 70 students, Harlowton High School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Harlowton High School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.8Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+7.61 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendImproving
Academics8.7Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25%
Reading/ELA Proficiency75%
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)38%
vs. Expected+11.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile79th
College Readiness7.3Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,101

Harlowton High School — Students at Harlowton High School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

51.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MT EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 25.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 41.7%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from MT state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
25%
ELA
75%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.8/10.

How Harlowton High School Compares

See how Harlowton High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
95th percentile in MT
Academic
8.7/10
8.7/10
Growth
9.8/10
Above average
Environment
8.8/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
51%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
7 teachers

Location

PO Box 288, Harlowton, MT 59036

Nearby Schools

7 within 24.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Hillcrest 7-8 Harlowton 0.0 mi
Hillcrest School Harlowton 0.3 mi 9.1
SPRINGWATER COLONY SCHOOL Harlowton 3.8 mi
Judith Gap School Judith Gap 17.2 mi
Judith Gap 7-8 Judith Gap 17.2 mi
Judith Gap High School Judith Gap 17.2 mi
Melville School Melville 24.1 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 59036 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$50,859

Median Home Value

$186,700

Median Rent

$778/mo

Population

1,530

College Educated

15.6%

Homeownership

72.4%

Poverty Rate

22.7%

Median Age

47.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Harlowton High School has a median household income of $50,859. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $186,700, with a median rent of $778/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
CHRYSALIS SCHOOL Eureka, MT 8.5
YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY Billings, MT 8.5
MOUNT ELLIS ACADEMY Bozeman, MT 8.3
Absarokee High School Absarokee, MT 9.1
Broadview High School Broadview, MT 9.1
Shields Valley High Schl Clyde Park, MT 9.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Harlowton High School

What grades does Harlowton High School serve?

Harlowton High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Harlowton High School?

Harlowton High School has an enrollment of approximately 70 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Harlowton High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Harlowton High School is 10:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Harlowton High School rank in MT?

Harlowton High School is ranked #33 out of 603 schools in MT.

What is Harlowton High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Harlowton High School has a composite rating of 8.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Harlowton High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Harlowton High School has 25.0% math proficiency and 41.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Harlowton High School a charter school?

No, Harlowton High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Harlowton High School a Title I school?

No, Harlowton High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harlowton High School?

51.4% of students at Harlowton High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

8 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
51 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
70
Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Free/Reduced Lunch
51.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Wheatland County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Harlowton K-12
District Enrollment
267
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,101
District Rank
#2 of 2

Other Schools in This District

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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