Ashland 7-8

Ashland 7-8 is a small public middle school located in Ashland, Montana, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 13 students. Despite its high per-student spending, the school has consistently underperformed compared to state averages, ranking in the bottom 20% of Montana middle schools over the past two decades.

Ashland 7-8 has struggled academically, with 0% proficiency in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to the state averages of 43.09%, 36.77%, and 38.16%, respectively. The school also has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, with 100% of students qualifying for this program in recent years. While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, this has not translated into improved educational outcomes for the students.

In comparison, the nearby Lame Deer 7-8 school, which is also a small public middle school serving grades 7-8, has consistently outperformed Ashland 7-8 academically, despite having a higher student-teacher ratio. This suggests that the high per-student spending at Ashland 7-8 may not be effectively addressing the unique needs of the student population, which is predominantly low-income according to the high free and reduced-price lunch rates.