Medicine Lake School

Summary:

Medicine Lake School is a small elementary school serving grades PK-6 with just 48 students in the rural town of Medicine Lake, Montana. The school is part of the Medicine Lake K-12 Schools district, which has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger and is ranked 220 out of 300 districts in the state.

One of the standout features of Medicine Lake School is its very low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 5.3 to 5.9 over the past three years - significantly lower than the nearby Plentywood School (13.5) and Froid Elementary School (4.7). However, the school's performance on state tests has been mixed, with proficiency rates in Mathematics (34.62%) and Reading (30.77%) lower than the state and district averages in the 2022-2023 school year, despite being higher in the previous two years. The school also has relatively high per-student spending of $19,972, compared to $12,001 at Plentywood School.

An interesting finding is the fluctuating statewide ranking of Medicine Lake School, which has ranged from 38th out of 218 elementary schools in 2004-2005 to 239th out of 332 in 2022-2023, suggesting inconsistent performance over time. The school also has a higher percentage of Native American students (14.58%) compared to nearby schools, which could indicate a unique cultural and demographic composition that may require tailored educational approaches. Overall, the data on Medicine Lake School provides a complex picture, with both strengths and areas for improvement that warrant further investigation.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 311 Young St
       Medicine Lake, MT  59247


(406) 789-2211

District: Medicine Lake K-12 Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
239th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $34,055 Help


Students who attend Medicine Lake School usually attend:

Middle:    Medicine Lake 7-8
High:    Medicine Lake High School

Student/teacher ratio:  5.9 Help
Number of students:  48

Racial breakdown:

White:
81.3%
American Indian:
14.6%
Hispanic:
2.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  32.6% Help


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 Compare Medicine Lake School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Medicine Lake School ranks worse than 72% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 36.09. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81.3%), American Indian (14.6%), Hispanic (2.1%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Medicine Lake School is 5.9. (See more...)
Help
Compare Medicine Lake School employs 8.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Medicine Lake School is $34,055.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Medicine Lake School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Medicine Lake K-12 Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Medicine Lake K-12 Schools 220th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Medicine Lake School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 78.73 38th 218 82.6%
2006 68.48 59th 234 74.8%
2007 57.76 106th 230 53.9%
2015 24.23 233rd 287 18.8%
2021 66.17 136th 356 61.8%
2022 71.44 110th 329 66.6%
2023 36.09 239th 332 28.0%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Montana Office of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Medicine Lake School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Medicine Lake School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2000 50 0 0 0 12 n/a n/a 0 62
2001 49 0 1 0 14 n/a n/a 0 64
2002 33 0 0 0 16 n/a n/a 0 49
2003 33 0 0 0 16 n/a n/a 0 49
2004 30 0 1 1 22 n/a n/a 0 54
2005 37 0 0 0 20 n/a n/a 0 57
2006 35 0 0 2 19 n/a n/a 0 56
2007 40 1 0 2 17 n/a n/a 0 60
2008 34 1 0 0 13 n/a n/a 0 48
2009 31 1 0 0 12 n/a n/a 0 44
2010 34 1 0 0 14 n/a n/a 0 49
2011 37 0 0 4 8 0 1 0 50
2012 37 0 0 2 12 0 2 0 53
2013 51 0 0 2 10 0 4 0 67
2014 59 0 0 1 10 0 2 0 72
2015 57 0 0 1 9 0 2 0 69
2016 62 0 1 0 7 0 1 0 71
2017 49 0 1 0 6 0 1 0 57
2018 59 1 1 0 4 0 1 0 66
2019 58 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 65
2020 35 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 43
2021 34 0 1 2 5 0 0 0 42
2022 39 0 0 1 7 0 0 0 47
2023 39 0 0 1 7 0 1 0 48

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Medicine Lake School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 62 7.1 8.7 45.2
2001 64 7.7 8.3 42.2
2002 49 6.0 8.2 44.9
2003 49 6.0 8.2 44.9
2004 54 5.8 9.3 61.1
2005 57 6.4 8.9 63.2
2006 56 6.7 8.4 58.9
2007 60 7.3 8.2 40
2008 48 7.0 6.9 47.9
2009 44 6.9 6.4 52.3
2010 49 7.2 6.7 67.3
2011 50 7.2 6.8 50
2012 53 6.9 7.6 35.8
2013 67 6.5 10.2 40.3
2014 72 7.9 9.1 44.4
2015 69 9.0 7.6 34.8
2016 71 9.0 7.8 0
2017 57 9.1 6.2 35.1
2018 66 9.2 7.1 31.8
2019 65 8.8 7.3 30.8
2020 43 7.7 5.5 32.6
2021 42 7.8 5.3 n/a
2022 47 8.1 5.8 n/a
2023 48 8.1 5.9 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Medicine Lake School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2000 62 7.1 8.7 45.2
2001 64 7.7 8.3 42.2
2002 49 6.0 8.2 44.9
2003 49 6.0 8.2 44.9
2004 54 5.8 9.3 61.1
2005 57 6.4 8.9 63.2
2006 56 6.7 8.4 58.9
2007 60 7.3 8.2 40
2008 48 7.0 6.9 47.9
2009 44 6.9 6.4 52.3
2010 49 7.2 6.7 67.3
2011 50 7.2 6.8 50
2012 53 6.9 7.6 35.8
2013 67 6.5 10.2 40.3
2014 72 7.9 9.1 44.4
2015 69 9.0 7.6 34.8
2016 71 9.0 7.8 0
2017 57 9.1 6.2 35.1
2018 66 9.2 7.1 31.8
2019 65 8.8 7.3 30.8
2020 43 7.7 5.5 32.6
2021 42 7.8 5.3 n/a
2022 47 8.1 5.8 n/a
2023 48 8.1 5.9 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Medicine Lake School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $19,972
2021 $33,398
2022 $28,489
2023 $34,055

Data source: Montana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Medicine Lake School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students6548
 26.2%
African American10
 100%
American Indian37
 133.3%
Asian10
 100%
Hispanic21
 50%
Pacific Islander00
White5839
 32.8%
Two or More Races01


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Frequently Asked Questions about Medicine Lake School

Students at Medicine Lake School are 81% White, 15% American Indian, 2% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Medicine Lake School ranks 239th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 48 students attended Medicine Lake School.

Students who attend Medicine Lake School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Medicine Lake 7-8
High : Medicine Lake High School


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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.





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