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Hellgate Middle School

Q: Is Hellgate Middle School a good school?

Hellgate Middle School ranks 41 st of 222 Montana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

41^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 222 Montana Middle Schools

Better than 82% of Montana middle schools

Summary

Hellgate Middle School is a public middle school located in Missoula, Montana, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 326 students. The school is part of the Hellgate Elementary District, which is ranked 118 out of 387 districts in Montana and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Hellgate Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Montana, with a statewide ranking between 17 and 41 over the past several years. The school has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating strong academic performance. Its test scores are significantly higher than the state averages in all subject areas, including English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates were 51.88% in ELA, 48.6% in Math, and 56.64% in Science, compared to the state averages of 43.09%, 36.77%, and 38.16%, respectively.

Hellgate Middle School has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at around 40% in recent years, suggesting the school serves a more economically diverse student population compared to some of the nearby schools, such as Target Range 7-8, which has a lower free and reduced lunch rate. The school's academic performance is generally stronger than the nearby middle schools, such as Frenchtown 6-8, Bonner 6-8, and Lolo Middle School, which have lower statewide rankings and test scores. However, the school lags behind the highly-ranked Washington Middle School, which is located within the Missoula Elementary District.

326

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

39.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2375 Flynn Lane
Missoula, MT 59802

(406) 721-2452

District: Hellgate Elementary

Students who attend Hellgate Middle School usually attend:

High:

Big Sky High School

Feeder schools for Hellgate Middle School:

Elementary:	Hellgate Elementary Lower Grades
	Hellgate Elementary Primary Grades

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.7%

Two or more races:

8.9%

Hispanic:

4.0%

See top rated Montana middle schools

Compare Hellgate Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 89th percentile in 2023 → 82nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Montana average (51% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of Montana middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 89th-percentile peak (2023) to 82nd (2025)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school51%

District avg49%

Montana avg40%

41^st of 222

Montana public middle schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 20 pts since 2016

From top 38% (2016) to top 18% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Montana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

118^th of 387Hellgate 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	70.9	41 of 222	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	83.9	21 of 187	88.8%	★★★★☆
2022	83.7	26 of 190	86.3%	★★★★☆
2021	82.2	23 of 200	88.5%	★★★★☆
2019	67.3	17 of 60	71.7%	★★★★☆
2018	60.4	22 of 58	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.8	20 of 55	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.2	31 of 81	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	68.7	39 of 159	75.5%	★★★★☆
2012	64.6	54 of 156	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.3	41 of 161	74.5%	★★★★☆
2010	70.7	32 of 156	79.5%	★★★★☆
2009	60.4	59 of 147	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	68.2	30 of 149	79.9%	★★★★☆
2007	75.7	19 of 147	87.1%	★★★★☆
2006	73.6	23 of 146	84.2%	★★★★☆
2005	77.6	26 of 164	84.1%	★★★★☆
2004	75.0	36 of 171	78.9%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Montana (2024-2025) ?

Science57%+18 vs state

English Language Arts52%+9 vs state

Mathematics49%+12 vs state

1.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, January 16, 2025

LOWER GRADE HELLGATE IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. BULLYING IS RAMPANT EVEN THOUGH THEY PREACH ANTI-BULLYING. KIDS WITH MONEY AND AFFLUENT BACKGROUNDS ARE FAVORED FOR SPORTS. TOO MANY KIDS ARE ENROLLED SO KIDS GET LOST IN THE MIX. A SMALLER SCHOOL WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER OPTION IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE. THEY HAVE RECENTLY LOST SOME OF THE BEST TEACHERS AND HAVE KEPT MANY THAT DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE STUDENTS. THE ADMIN DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE MUCH EITHER. THE FACILITIES ARE NEW AND NICE, BUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS ARE MINIMAL CONSIDERING THE HIGH ENROLLMENT NUMBERS. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Hellgate’s best interest is not for the kids, it is for themselves and how they get funding. Very disappointed in the board and everyone involved in the school system. Close Quote

Schools Near Hellgate Middle School

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Lolo Middle School	Public	5-8	11395 Highway 93 South	Lolo	59847	Missoula County	Lolo Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 273-6141	239	16	15.1	25.9%	212 (88.7%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (5.0%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.2%)	44.5	126^th of 222 public middle schools	43.2%		51.6	54^th of 123 public middle schools	56.1%	72	41.5	28.0	$6,581

Frequently Asked Questions about Hellgate Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Hellgate Middle School?

Students at Hellgate Middle School are 81% White, 9% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 3% American Indian, 3% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Hellgate Middle School attend?

Students who attend Hellgate Middle School usually go on to attend Big Sky High School

How many students attend Hellgate Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 326 students attended Hellgate Middle School.

Is Hellgate Middle School a good school?

Hellgate Middle School ranks 41^st of 222 Montana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Hellgate Middle School in?

Hellgate 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.