Skip to main content

Very Good

#116 of 603 schools in MT

Top 19% in state

Heart Butte High School

High School · Heart Butte K-12 Schools

PO Box 259, Heart Butte, MT 59448

Enrollment

73

Student-Teacher

12.2:1

Score

7.5

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Heart Butte

#1 of 2

public schools

Montana high schools

#23 of 141

In district

#1 of 2

Heart Butte K-12 Schools

School environment

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Heart Butte High School

Heart Butte High School is a regular public high school located in the remote rural area of Heart Butte, Montana. Serving students from ninth through twelfth grade, the school has an enrollment of 73 students and employs six full-time equivalent teachers, resulting in a student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1. The academic performance at Heart Butte High School currently stands at a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10, with state rankings placing it at the 31st percentile among Montana schools.

In terms of proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math, approximately 25% of students are proficient or above. While there is room for academic growth, Heart Butte High School focuses on supporting its students within a close-knit community setting. The school's remote location offers unique opportunities to engage with the natural environment and fosters strong relationships between teachers and students.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 73 students, Heart Butte 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, Heart Butte 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 Progress8.1Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change0 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics5.2Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25%
Reading/ELA Proficiency25%
Overall Proficiency25%
Expected (poverty-adj.)25%
vs. Expected+0.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile34th
College Readiness7.3Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.7Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$25,591

Heart Butte High School — Students at Heart Butte High School score 25% proficient, which is above 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 25.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 25.0%
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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
25%

* 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: 8.1/10.

How Heart Butte High School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.5/10
81th percentile in MT
Academic
5.2/10
5.2/10
Growth
8.1/10
Above average
Environment
9.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
6 teachers

Location

PO Box 259, Heart Butte, MT 59448

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Heart Butte High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. DE LA SALLE BLACKFEET SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 21.2 miles away, in nearby Browning), which scores slightly higher. Another option is KW-VC Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 21.0 miles away, in nearby Browning), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Heart Butte Elementary (rated 6.6/10), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Heart Butte, see our Heart Butte schools guide .

Nearby Schools

15 within 31.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Heart Butte Elementary Heart Butte 0.0 mi 6.6
Heart Butte 6-8 Heart Butte 0.0 mi
Browning Middle School Browning 20.6 mi 5.1
Napi School Browning 21.0 mi 5.2
Browning Elementary Browning 21.0 mi 4.8
KW-VC Elementary Browning 21.0 mi 7.9
CUTSWOOD SCHOOL Browning 21.2 mi
DE LA SALLE BLACKFEET SCHOOL Browning 21.2 mi 8.4
Browning High School Browning 21.4 mi 5.7
Dupuyer School Dupuyer 16.5 mi 6.5
Kingsbury Colony Attn Ctr Valier 16.1 mi
Hidden Lake Elementary Cut Bank 24.9 mi
Pendroy School Pendroy 21.9 mi
East Glacier Park School E. Glacier Park 21.0 mi 5.9
Mountain View Elementary Cut Bank 31.6 mi

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Heart Butte High School has a median household income of $29,318. It is a community where 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $47,500, with a median rent of $457/month. The area has a poverty rate of 38.4%, 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
BUTTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Butte, MT 7.5
Plenty Coups High School Pryor, MT 7.5
Belt High School Belt, MT 7.4
Bridger High School Bridger, MT 7.4
Brockton High School Brockton, MT 7.4
Noxon High School Noxon, MT 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Heart Butte High School

What grades does Heart Butte High School serve?

Heart Butte High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Heart Butte High School?

Heart Butte High School has an enrollment of approximately 73 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Heart Butte High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Heart Butte High School is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Heart Butte High School rank in MT?

Heart Butte High School is ranked #116 out of 603 schools in MT.

What is Heart Butte High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Heart Butte High School has a composite rating of 7.5 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 Heart Butte High School?

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

Is Heart Butte High School a charter school?

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

Is Heart Butte High School a Title I school?

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

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

100.0% of students at Heart Butte 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
4 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (333/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
73
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Pondera County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Heart Butte K-12 Schools
District Enrollment
197
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$29,918
District Rank
#1 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

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.