Average

#297 of 603 schools in MT

Top 49% in state

Heart Butte Elementary

Elementary School · Heart Butte K-12 Schools

PO Box 259, Heart Butte, MT 59448

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

9.6:1

Score

6.3

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

9.6:1

Score

6.3

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Montana schools

#297 of 603

In Heart Butte

#2 of 2

public schools

In district

#2 of 2

Heart Butte K-12 Schools

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Excellent

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Elementary School in Heart Butte · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

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About Heart Butte Elementary

Heart Butte Elementary is a public elementary school in Heart Butte, MT, part of Heart Butte K-12 Schools. Heart Butte Elementary serves approximately 96 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 9.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Heart Butte Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #297 of 603 schools in MT.

Structured state assessment records for Heart Butte Elementary show 9% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 16% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with MT schools

6.3

This school 6.3 · Average
MT avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 96 students, Heart Butte Elementary is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Test scores at Heart Butte Elementary sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

At 9.6:1 students to teachers, Heart Butte Elementary sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics

Student Progress8.7Excellent50%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-2.38 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics1.9Needs Improvement30%

Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.

View breakdown

Math Proficiency5% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency5% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency5% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

Expected (poverty-adj.)25% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)

vs. Expected-20.2 pts

Adjusted Percentile4th

Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%

Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio9.6:1

Per-Pupil Spending$29,918

Chronic Absenteeism86.5%

Heart Butte Elementary — Students at Heart Butte Elementary score 5% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MT EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 9.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 15.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

Based on 26 test records from MT state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009

Math

24.5%

ELA

34.5%

2010

Math

24.5%

ELA

44.5%

2011

Math

15%

ELA

44.5%

2012

Math

12%

ELA

27%

2014

Math

ELA

2015

Math

ELA

15%

2016

Math

ELA

2017

Math

ELA

2018

Math

ELA

2019

Math

ELA

2020*

Math

ELA

2021*

Math

ELA

2022

Math

ELA

* 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: 8.7/10.

How Heart Butte Elementary Compares

See how Heart Butte Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score

6.3/10

51th percentile in MT

Academic

1.9/10

Needs Improvement

Growth

8.7/10

Excellent

Environment

7.0/10

Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

100%

Teaching Staff

10:1 student-teacher ratio

10 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)

86.5%

Location

PO Box 259, Heart Butte, MT 59448

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Heart Butte Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Dupuyer School (rated 6.8/10, 16.5 miles away, in nearby Dupuyer), which scores slightly higher. Another option is KW-VC Elementary (rated 5.4/10, 21.0 miles away, in nearby Browning), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Napi School (rated 4.4/10, 21.0 miles away, in nearby Browning), a more accessible option. For more schools in Heart Butte, see our Heart Butte schools guide .

Nearby Schools

15 within 31.6 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Heart Butte High School Heart Butte	0.0 mi	73	7.9
Heart Butte 6-8 Heart Butte	0.0 mi	28	—
Browning Middle School Browning	20.6 mi	371	4.4
Napi School Browning	21.0 mi	270	4.4
Browning Elementary Browning	21.0 mi	287	3.3
KW-VC Elementary Browning	21.0 mi	330	5.4
CUTSWOOD SCHOOL Browning	21.2 mi	29	—
DE LA SALLE BLACKFEET SCHOOL Browning	21.2 mi	69	8.4
Browning High School Browning	21.4 mi	611	4.3
Dupuyer School Dupuyer	16.5 mi	46	6.8
Kingsbury Colony Attn Ctr Valier	16.1 mi	22	—
Hidden Lake Elementary Cut Bank	24.9 mi	23	—
Pendroy School Pendroy	21.9 mi	11	—
East Glacier Park School E. Glacier Park	21.0 mi	50	2.6
Mountain View Elementary Cut Bank	31.6 mi	9	—

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 59448 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$29,318

Median Home Value

$47,500

Median Rent

$457/mo

Population

647

College Educated

12%

Homeownership

48.8%

Poverty Rate

38.4%

Median Age

28.6

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Absarokee School Absarokee, MT	80	6.3
ST CHARLES MISSION SCHOOL Pryor, MT	85	6.3
Frontier School Wolf Point, MT	90	6.2
WHITEFISH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Whitefish, MT	127	6.2
North Star School Rudyard, MT	113	6.4
Philipsburg School Philipsburg, MT	103	6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Heart Butte Elementary

What grades does Heart Butte Elementary serve?

Heart Butte Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Heart Butte Elementary?

Heart Butte Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 96 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Heart Butte Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Heart Butte Elementary is 9.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Heart Butte Elementary rank in MT?

Heart Butte Elementary ranks #297 of 603 schools in MT.

What is Heart Butte Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Heart Butte Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Heart Butte Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Heart Butte Elementary has 9% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 16% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Heart Butte Elementary a charter school?

No, Heart Butte Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Heart Butte Elementary a Title I school?

No, Heart Butte Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Heart Butte Elementary?

100.0% of students at Heart Butte Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.