North Star 7-8

North Star 7-8 is a public middle school located in Rudyard, Montana, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 25 students. The school is part of the North Star Elementary District, which is ranked 302 out of 387 districts in Montana and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

North Star 7-8 has shown fluctuating academic performance over the years, with its statewide ranking ranging from 10th to 147th out of Montana middle schools. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school had lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts (30%), Mathematics (35%), and Science (33.33%) compared to the state averages (43.09%, 36.77%, and 38.16%, respectively). Compared to the nearby Chester-Joplin-Inverness 7-8 school, North Star 7-8 had significantly lower proficiency rates in all three subjects. The school also had a high percentage of free and reduced lunch recipients, ranging from 44% to 55.17% in recent years, suggesting it serves a socioeconomically disadvantaged student population.

Despite the small student population, North Star 7-8 has maintained a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 8.6 to 12.6 students per teacher in recent years. In comparison, the nearby Chester-Joplin-Inverness 7-8 school had an even lower student-teacher ratio of 6.9 in the 2024-2025 school year. This suggests that North Star 7-8 may have the potential to provide more individualized attention and support to its students, but it remains to be seen whether this is translating into improved academic outcomes.