Average

#338 of 603 schools in MT

Poplar 5-6 School

Middle School · Poplar Elem

Box 458, Poplar, MT 59255

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

126

Student-Teacher

8.4:1

Score

6.1

Grades

5th – 6th

Enrollment

126

Student-Teacher

8.4:1

Score

6.1

Grades

5th – 6th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Montana schools

#338 of 603

In Poplar

#2 of 4

public schools

In district

#2 of 3

Poplar Elem

Academic growth

8.3 / 10

Excellent

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Middle School in Poplar · grades 5th – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Poplar 5-6 School

Poplar 5-6 School is a public middle school in Poplar, MT, part of Poplar Elem. Poplar 5-6 School serves approximately 126 students, and covers grades 5th-6th, and has a 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Poplar 5-6 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #338 of 603 schools in MT.

Structured state assessment records for Poplar 5-6 School show 9% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district

6.1

This school 6.1 · Average
District avg 5.8
MT avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

At 126 students, Poplar 5-6 School 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 Poplar 5-6 School 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 8.4:1 students to teachers, Poplar 5-6 School 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 Progress8.3Excellent40%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-2.57 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics2.4Needs Improvement35%

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

View breakdown

Math Proficiency7.5% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency12% (2022 EdFacts)

Overall Proficiency10% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)

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

vs. Expected-15.4 pts

Adjusted Percentile7th

Resources & Environment7.9Very Good25%

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

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio8.4:1

Per-Pupil Spending$22,549

Chronic Absenteeism57.1%

Poplar 5-6 School — Students at Poplar 5-6 School score 10% 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 8.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 18.0% (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

27%

ELA

47%

2010

Math

22%

ELA

47%

2011

Math

27%

ELA

42%

2012

Math

12%

ELA

32%

2014

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2015

Math

2.5%

ELA

2.5%

2016

Math

2.5%

ELA

2.5%

2017

Math

2.5%

ELA

2.5%

2018

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2019

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2020*

Math

2.5%

ELA

12%

2021*

Math

2.5%

ELA

12%

2022

Math

7.5%

ELA

12%

* 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: 8.3/10.

How Poplar 5-6 School Compares

See how Poplar 5-6 School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score

6.1/10

44th percentile in MT

Academic

2.4/10

Needs Improvement

Growth

8.3/10

Excellent

Environment

7.9/10

Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

100%

Teaching Staff

8:1 student-teacher ratio

15 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

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

57.1%

Location

Box 458, Poplar, MT 59255

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Poplar 5-6 School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Poplar 7-8 (rated 5.5/10), with a comparable rating. Another option is Northside School (rated 4.7/10, 20.3 miles away, in nearby Wolf Point), a more accessible option. Additionally, Wolf Point 7-8 (rated 4.1/10, 20.6 miles away, in nearby Wolf Point), a more accessible option. For more schools in Poplar, see our Poplar schools guide .

Nearby Schools

16 within 33.0 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Poplar 7-8 Poplar	0.0 mi	123	5.5
Poplar School Poplar	0.0 mi	334	7.2
Poplar High School Poplar	0.0 mi	272	5.5
Barbara Gilligan School Brockton	13.6 mi	79	5.5
Barbara Gilligan 7-8 Brockton	13.6 mi	16	—
Brockton High School Brockton	13.6 mi	56	7.2
Frontier School Wolf Point	16.5 mi	90	6.2
Frontier 7-8 Wolf Point	16.5 mi	23	—
Vida School Circle	23.4 mi	45	5.7
Northside School Wolf Point	20.3 mi	166	4.7
Southside School Wolf Point	20.4 mi	230	4.3
Wolf Point 7-8 Wolf Point	20.6 mi	108	4.1
Wolf Point High School Wolf Point	20.6 mi	212	4.2
Richey School Richey	33.0 mi	44	5.1
Richey 7-8 Richey	33.0 mi	10	—
Richey High School Richey	33.0 mi	24	—

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 59255 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$41,089

Median Home Value

$79,900

Median Rent

$429/mo

Population

2,994

College Educated

16.9%

Homeownership

67.1%

Poverty Rate

38.4%

Median Age

25.7

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Bigfork 7-8 Bigfork, MT	153	6.0
Joliet Middle School Joliet, MT	102	6.0
Lame Deer 7-8 Lame Deer, MT	90	6.0
Columbus Middle School Columbus, MT	176	6.2
Whitehall 6-8 Whitehall, MT	112	6.4
Glasgow Middle School Glasgow, MT	174	6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Poplar 5-6 School

What grades does Poplar 5-6 School serve?

Poplar 5-6 School serves students in grades 5th through 6th.

How many students attend Poplar 5-6 School?

Poplar 5-6 School has an enrollment of approximately 126 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Poplar 5-6 School?

The student-teacher ratio at Poplar 5-6 School is 8.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Poplar 5-6 School rank in MT?

Poplar 5-6 School ranks #338 of 603 schools in MT.

What is Poplar 5-6 School's MySchoolScout rating?

Poplar 5-6 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 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 Poplar 5-6 School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Poplar 5-6 School has 9% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Poplar 5-6 School a charter school?

No, Poplar 5-6 School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Poplar 5-6 School a Title I school?

No, Poplar 5-6 School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Poplar 5-6 School?

100.0% of students at Poplar 5-6 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.