Middle Schools in Hamilton K-12 Schools

The Hamilton K-12 Schools district in Montana is home to two middle schools: Hamilton Middle School and Bitterroot Polytech 7-8. While Hamilton Middle School is a relatively strong-performing school, Bitterroot Polytech 7-8 is struggling, with much lower test scores and rankings.

Hamilton Middle School consistently ranks higher among Montana middle schools, with a ranking of 92 out of 222 schools in the 2024-2025 school year, and has received 3 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger in the past. The school outperforms the district and state averages in proficiency rates for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. In contrast, Bitterroot Polytech 7-8 has a much lower ranking of 208 out of 222 schools and has received 0 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger, with significantly lower proficiency rates compared to the district and state.

The data also reveals a difference in the socioeconomic factors between the two schools, with Bitterroot Polytech 7-8 having a free and reduced lunch rate of 80%, significantly higher than the 52.39% rate at Hamilton Middle School. This suggests that Bitterroot Polytech 7-8 serves a more economically disadvantaged student population, which may contribute to the school's lower performance. The district should examine the allocation of resources to ensure equitable support for all students within the Hamilton K-12 Schools district.