Westby 7-8

Westby 7-8 is a small public middle school in Westby, MT, serving just 9 students in grades 7-8. As part of the Westby K-12 Schools district, which is ranked 184 out of 387 districts in Montana, Westby 7-8 faces some unique challenges. The school's test scores are significantly lower than state and district averages in English Language Arts (ELA) and Science, though its Math proficiency rate is slightly higher than the state average.

One notable factor is the high percentage of students (55.56%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. This could contribute to the school's struggles, as it may need to allocate additional resources and support to address the unique challenges faced by this population. Additionally, the school's spending per student is significantly higher than the state average, which could be due to the small student population and the need to maintain a certain level of staffing and resources.

Despite the school's small size, it has a very low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 2 to 4.3 students per teacher over the past few years. This suggests a high level of individual attention and support for students. However, the school has experienced a significant decline in its statewide ranking, from being ranked 1st out of 156 Montana middle schools in 2014-2015 to 185th out of 222 in 2024-2025, indicating a substantial deterioration in the school's performance over the past decade.