Average

#409 of 603 schools in MT

Poplar 7-8

Middle School · Poplar Elem

Box 458, Poplar, MT 59255

Last updated: July 2026

Enrollment

123

Student-Teacher

8.8:1

Score

5.5

Grades

7th – 8th

Enrollment

123

Student-Teacher

8.8:1

Score

5.5

Grades

7th – 8th

Data vintage
2022-23

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Montana schools

#409 of 603

In Poplar

#3 of 4

public schools

In district

#3 of 3

Poplar Elem

Academic growth

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Middle School in Poplar · grades 7th – 8th. 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 7-8

Poplar 7-8 is a public middle school in Poplar, MT, part of Poplar Elem. Poplar 7-8 serves approximately 123 students, and covers grades 7th-8th, and has a 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Poplar 7-8 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #409 of 603 schools in MT.

Structured state assessment records for Poplar 7-8 show 7% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district

5.5

This school 5.5 · Average
District avg 5.8
MT avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

At 123 students, Poplar 7-8 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 7-8 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 8.8:1 students to teachers, Poplar 7-8 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 Progress8.8Excellent40%

Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.

View breakdown

Years of Data13

Annual Change-2.28 pts/yr

Data Period2009–2022

TrendDeclining

Academics1.9Needs Improvement35%

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

View breakdown

Math Proficiency2.5% (2022 EdFacts)

Reading/ELA Proficiency7.5% (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 & Environment5.2Average25%

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

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio8.8:1

Per-Pupil Spending$22,549

Chronic Absenteeism87.8%

Poplar 7-8 — Students at Poplar 7-8 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 6.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

School

State

N/A

ELA Proficiency 17.7% (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

17%

ELA

47%

2010

Math

17%

ELA

37%

2011

Math

12%

ELA

37%

2012

Math

17%

ELA

37%

2014

Math

2.5%

ELA

12%

2015

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2016

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2017

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2018

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2019

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2020*

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2021*

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

2022

Math

2.5%

ELA

7.5%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Poplar 7-8 Compares

See how Poplar 7-8 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score

5.5/10

32th percentile in MT

Academic

1.9/10

Needs Improvement

Growth

8.8/10

Excellent

Environment

5.2/10

Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch

Students eligible for subsidized meals

100%

Teaching Staff

9:1 student-teacher ratio

14 teachers

Chronic Absenteeism

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

87.8%

Location

Box 458, Poplar, MT 59255

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Poplar 7-8 may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Poplar 5-6 School (rated 6.1/10), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Northside School (rated 4.7/10, 20.3 miles away, in nearby Wolf Point), with a comparable rating. 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 School Poplar	0.0 mi	334	7.2
Poplar 5-6 School Poplar	0.0 mi	126	6.1
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
E F Duvall 7-8 Deer Lodge, MT	98	5.6
Roosevelt Junior High Red Lodge, MT	123	5.6
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
Poplar 5-6 School Poplar, MT	126	6.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Poplar 7-8

What grades does Poplar 7-8 serve?

Poplar 7-8 serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Poplar 7-8?

Poplar 7-8 has an enrollment of approximately 123 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Poplar 7-8?

The student-teacher ratio at Poplar 7-8 is 8.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Poplar 7-8 rank in MT?

Poplar 7-8 ranks #409 of 603 schools in MT.

What is Poplar 7-8's MySchoolScout rating?

Poplar 7-8 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 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 7-8?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Poplar 7-8 has 7% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 18% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Poplar 7-8 a charter school?

No, Poplar 7-8 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Poplar 7-8 a Title I school?

No, Poplar 7-8 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Poplar 7-8?

100.0% of students at Poplar 7-8 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.