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DeSmet 6-8

Q: Is DeSmet 6-8 a good school?

DeSmet 6-8 ranks 56 th of 222 Montana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

56^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 222 Montana Middle Schools

Better than 75% of Montana middle schools

Summary

DeSmet 6-8 is a small public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Missoula, Montana, with an enrollment of just 37 students. This school stands out from the nearby middle schools in several key ways.

First, DeSmet 6-8 has an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 8.2 to 11.4 over the past few years, which is significantly lower than the surrounding schools, which have ratios ranging from 14.9 to 18.8. Additionally, DeSmet 6-8 has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 100% in the past two school years, much higher than the 25.94% to 57.51% range of the other schools in the area. However, the school's academic performance has been mixed, with higher proficiency in science but lower proficiency in math and English language arts compared to the state and nearby schools like Meadow Hill Middle School and Porter Middle School.

The school's ranking has also fluctuated significantly over the years, from a high of 31 out of 156 middle schools in 2014-2015 to a low of 171 out of 200 in 2020-2021, suggesting inconsistent performance. While the small size and high percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch may present unique challenges for DeSmet 6-8, the school's strengths in science and low student-teacher ratio could also be potential advantages. Overall, DeSmet 6-8 stands out from the larger, more resourced middle schools in the Missoula Elementary district in several ways.

Students ?

10.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6355 Padre Lane
Missoula, MT 59802

(406) 549-4994

District: DeSmet Elementary

Students who attend DeSmet 6-8 usually attend:

High:

Big Sky High School

Feeder schools for DeSmet 6-8:

Elementary:

DeSmet School

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.1%

Two or more races:

8.1%

Hispanic:

5.4%

See top rated Montana middle schools

Compare DeSmet 6-8 to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 19th percentile in 2008 → 75th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Montana average (49% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 56 percentile points since 2008

✓Above the Montana median (75th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg51%

Montana avg40%

56^th of 222

Montana public middle schools ?

Top 25%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From top 20% (2015) to top 25% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Montana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

91^st of 387DeSmet Elementary among Montana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Montana percentile	Rating
2025	65.9	56 of 222	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	62.6	66 of 187	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	25.4	152 of 190	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.5	171 of 200	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	65.6	31 of 156	80.1%	★★★★☆
2013	64.6	55 of 159	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	38.3	122 of 156	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	40.4	122 of 161	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	44.7	105 of 147	28.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	37.8	121 of 149	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	13.7	136 of 147	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	34.6	120 of 146	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	77.1	29 of 164	82.3%	★★★★☆
2004	73.6	37 of 171	78.4%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Montana (2024-2025) ?

Science71%+33 vs state

Mathematics48%+12 vs state

English Language Arts45%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near DeSmet 6-8

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MAST English Language Arts (2025)	MAST Mathematics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAST English Language Arts All Grades	MAST Mathematics All Grades	Total
DeSmet 6-8	Public	6-8	6355 Padre Lane	Missoula	59802	Missoula County	DeSmet Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 549-4994	37	3	10.8	100.0%	30 (81.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (5.4%)	1 (2.7%)	1 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (8.1%)	65.9	56^th of 222 public middle schools	74.8%					(n/a)	45.5	48.5
Hellgate Middle School	Public	7-8	2375 Flynn Lane	Missoula	59802	Missoula County	Hellgate Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 721-2452	326	22	14.9	39.6%	263 (80.7%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.0%)	10 (3.1%)	11 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.9%)	70.9	41^st of 222 public middle schools	81.5%					(n/a)	51.9	48.6
Hellgate Elementary Intermediate	Public	4-6	2355 Flynn Lane	Missoula	59808	Missoula County	Hellgate Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 721-2160	517	27	18.8	36.8%	421 (81.4%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.4%)	9 (1.7%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (8.5%)								(n/a)	53.0	44.1	$10,098
Target Range 7-8	Public	7-8	4095 South Avenue West	Missoula	59804	Missoula County	Target Range Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 549-9239	134	8	17.3	30.6%	116 (86.6%)	2 (1.5%)	4 (3.0%)	2 (1.5%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.7%)	88.8	7^th of 222 public middle schools	96.8%		72.6	28^th of 123 public middle schools	77.2%	21	60.5	70.2	$11,737
Porter Middle School	Public	6-8	2510 Central Avenue	Missoula	59804	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 542-4060	579	37	15.5	57.5%	450 (77.7%)	21 (3.6%)	34 (5.9%)	18 (3.1%)	48 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.4%)	35.4	153^rd of 222 public middle schools	31.1%		49.2	58^th of 123 public middle schools	52.8%	95	34.6	25.6	$13,509
Washington Middle School	Public	6-8	645 West Central Ave	Missoula	59801	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4085	669	41	16.3	29.4%	578 (86.4%)	9 (1.3%)	30 (4.5%)	13 (1.9%)	28 (4.2%)	2 (0.3%)	9 (1.3%)	81.1	22^nd of 222 public middle schools	90.1%		74.2	26^th of 123 public middle schools	78.9%	4	63.4	55.8	$12,496
Missoula Connect Academy Middle School	Public, Virtual	6-8	909 South Avenue West	Missoula	59803	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(406) 728-2400	19	2	9.5	31.6%	17 (89.5%)	1 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.3%)	17.5	195^th of 222 public middle schools	12.2%					(n/a)	23.1	6.7
Meadow Hill Middle School	Public	6-8	4210 Reserve	Missoula	59803	Missoula County	Missoula Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 542-4045	414	27	15.1	40.3%	346 (83.6%)	10 (2.4%)	25 (6.0%)	9 (2.2%)	16 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.9%)	60.9	78^th of 222 public middle schools	64.9%		67.9	36^th of 123 public middle schools	70.7%	42	49.3	41.2	$15,062
Frenchtown 6-8	Public	6-8	17620 Frontage Road	Frenchtown	59834	Missoula County	Frenchtown K-12 Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 626-2650	311	20	15.5	38.6%	269 (86.5%)	3 (1.0%)	12 (3.9%)	3 (1.0%)	5 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.8%)	60.4	79^th of 222 public middle schools	64.4%		60.1	46^th of 123 public middle schools	62.6%	33	47.8	46.3	$10,191
Bonner 6-8	Public	6-8	9045 Hwy 200 E	Bonner	59823	Missoula County	Bonner Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 258-6151	100	8	11.9	44.0%	88 (88.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27.2	170^th of 222 public middle schools	23.4%		46.9	60^th of 123 public middle schools	51.2%	110	34.7	8.4	$13,772

Frequently Asked Questions about DeSmet 6-8

What is the racial makeup of DeSmet 6-8?

Students at DeSmet 6-8 are 81% White, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 3% American Indian.

Is DeSmet 6-8 a good school?

DeSmet 6-8 ranks 56^th of 222 Montana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend DeSmet 6-8?

In the 2024-25 school year, 37 students attended DeSmet 6-8.

What high school do graduates of DeSmet 6-8 attend?

Students who attend DeSmet 6-8 usually go on to attend Big Sky High School

What district is DeSmet 6-8 in?

DeSmet Elementary

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.