Carter County High School

Summary:

Carter County High School is the sole public high school serving grades 9-12 in Ekalaka, Montana, with a total enrollment of 36 students. While the school boasts a very low student-teacher ratio of 6.6, it faces significant challenges, including declining academic performance and a high percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

According to the data, Carter County High School has seen its statewide ranking drop from 69th out of 114 high schools in 2021-2022 to 99th out of 182 in 2024-2025, suggesting the school is struggling to keep pace with other high schools in Montana. The school's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science on the ACT with Writing exam are all below the state average, and it is rated 2 out of 5 stars by School Digger, indicating below-average performance compared to other schools in the state. Additionally, the Carter County High School District is ranked 221st out of 387 school districts in Montana.

One potential factor contributing to the school's challenges is the high percentage of students (83.33%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a significant level of economic need among the student population. While the low student-teacher ratio could be a strength, it may also be a result of declining enrollment, which could present its own set of challenges for the school. Overall, the data suggests that Carter County High School is facing significant hurdles in maintaining academic performance and supporting its students, despite the potential advantages of its small size.

District Detail

111 W Speelmon St
Ekalaka, MT 59324

(406) 775-8767

SchoolDigger Rank:
221^st of 387 Montana districts

See the 2025 Montana District rankings!

Grades served: 9-12
Students: 36

Primary Schools: 0
Middle Schools: 0
High Schools: 1
Alternative Schools: 0

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ACT with Writing English Language Arts (2025)	ACT with Writing Mathematics (2025)	ACT with Writing Science (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	ACT with Writing English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT with Writing Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT with Writing Science 11th Grade	Total
Carter County High School	Public	9-12	111 W Speelmon St	Ekalaka	59324	Carter County	Carter County High School	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 775-8767	36	5	6.6	83.3%	33 (91.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (8.3%)	50.7	99^th of 182 public high schools	45.6%		28.8	95^th of 122 public high schools	22.1%	4	50.0	25.0	25.0	$31,102

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Ekalaka Elementary	0 mi	2	72^nd
Baker K-12 Schools	34.74 mi	4	218^th
Hawks Home Elementary	34.83 mi	2	13^th
Plevna K-12 Schools	36.59 mi	3	41^st
Trail Creek Elementary	42.35 mi	1	1^st

See the top MT Montana districts

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.