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Big Sky School

Summary:

Big Sky School is a small elementary school in Cut Bank, Montana, serving grades PK-8 with just 25 students. The school is part of the Cut Bank Elementary School District, which is ranked 269 out of 300 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite its small class sizes, Big Sky School has consistently underperformed academically compared to the state and nearby schools. In the 2022-2023 school year, 0% of students were proficient or better in both mathematics and reading on the Montana State Tests, significantly lower than the state averages of 36.59% and 46.03%, respectively. This poor academic performance has led to Big Sky School ranking in the bottom 10% of Montana elementary schools and receiving a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. Nearby schools like Glendale School generally perform much better academically.

Another notable finding is the complete lack of racial diversity at Big Sky School, with a 100% White student population. This is not reflective of the broader demographics of Montana, and the reasons behind this lack of diversity are unclear. Additionally, the data suggests there may be disparities in funding and resource allocation between Big Sky School and the higher-performing nearby schools, which could be a contributing factor to the academic challenges faced by the school.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 1657 Merriweather Road
       Cut Bank, MT  59427

(406) 336-3790

District: Browning Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
330th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,526 Help


Students who attend Big Sky School usually attend:

Middle:    Browning Middle School
High:    Browning High School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.6 Help
Number of students:  24

Racial breakdown:

White:
100.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  10.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Big Sky School ranks worse than 99.4% of elementary schools in Montana. It also ranks last among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Browning Elementary School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 1.51. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (100%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Big Sky School is 10.6, which is the 3rd best among 5 elementary schools in the Browning Elementary School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Big Sky School employs 2.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Big Sky School is $16,526, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Browning Elementary School District!
Schooldigger Rankings:

Big Sky School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Browning Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Browning Elementary 269th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Big Sky School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 12.53 224th 241 7.1%
2011 16.98 216th 247 12.6%
2012 13.78 216th 244 11.5%
2013 13.99 215th 246 12.6%
2021 3.54 345th 356 3.1%
2022 1.78 328th 329 0.3%
2023 1.51 330th 332 0.6%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Big Sky 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 Big Sky School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 14 14
1991 15 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 15
1992 17 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 17
1993 22 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 22
1994 28 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 28
1995 32 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 32
1996 32 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 32
1997 14 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 14
1998 14 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 14
1999 16 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 16
2000 18 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 18
2001 17 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 17
2002 18 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 18
2003 18 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 18
2004 19 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 19
2005 17 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 17
2006 16 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 16
2007 17 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 17
2008 15 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 15
2009 15 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 15
2010 13 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 13
2011 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
2012 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13
2013 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
2014 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
2015 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16
2016 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18
2017 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
2018 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22
2019 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23
2020 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28
2021 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27
2022 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29
2023 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25
2024 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24

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 Big Sky School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 14 2.1 6.6 n/a
1991 15 1.0 15.0 0
1992 17 1.0 17.0 n/a
1993 22 2.2 10.0 0
1994 28 2.1 13.3 0
1995 32 2.0 16.0 0
1996 32 2.0 16.0 0
1997 14 1.0 14.0 0
1998 14 1.0 14.0 0
1999 16 1.0 16.0 0
2000 18 1.0 18.0 0
2001 17 1.0 17.0 0
2002 18 1.1 16.4 0
2003 18 1.1 16.4 0
2004 19 1.1 17.3 0
2005 17 1.1 15.5 n/a
2006 16 1.2 13.3 n/a
2007 17 1.0 17.0 n/a
2008 15 1.0 15.0 n/a
2009 15 1.1 13.6 n/a
2010 13 1.1 11.4 n/a
2011 15 1.1 13.1 n/a
2012 13 1.1 11.8 0
2013 12 1.1 10.9 0
2014 15 1.0 14.2 0
2015 16 1.0 16.0 0
2016 18 1.0 18.0 0
2017 17 1.3 12.4 0
2018 22 1.3 16.0 0
2019 23 1.3 16.7 13
2020 28 1.9 14.7 10.7
2021 27 1.9 14.2 n/a
2022 29 2.2 12.8 n/a
2023 25 2.3 10.7 n/a
2024 24 2.2 10.6 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 Big Sky School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 14 2.1 6.6 n/a
1991 15 1.0 15.0 0
1992 17 1.0 17.0 n/a
1993 22 2.2 10.0 0
1994 28 2.1 13.3 0
1995 32 2.0 16.0 0
1996 32 2.0 16.0 0
1997 14 1.0 14.0 0
1998 14 1.0 14.0 0
1999 16 1.0 16.0 0
2000 18 1.0 18.0 0
2001 17 1.0 17.0 0
2002 18 1.1 16.4 0
2003 18 1.1 16.4 0
2004 19 1.1 17.3 0
2005 17 1.1 15.5 n/a
2006 16 1.2 13.3 n/a
2007 17 1.0 17.0 n/a
2008 15 1.0 15.0 n/a
2009 15 1.1 13.6 n/a
2010 13 1.1 11.4 n/a
2011 15 1.1 13.1 n/a
2012 13 1.1 11.8 0
2013 12 1.1 10.9 0
2014 15 1.0 14.2 0
2015 16 1.0 16.0 0
2016 18 1.0 18.0 0
2017 17 1.3 12.4 0
2018 22 1.3 16.0 0
2019 23 1.3 16.7 13
2020 28 1.9 14.7 10.7
2021 27 1.9 14.2 n/a
2022 29 2.2 12.8 n/a
2023 25 2.3 10.7 n/a
2024 24 2.2 10.6 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 Big Sky School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2021 $13,002
2022 $21,876
2023 $16,526

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Big Sky 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 Students2325
 8.7%
African American00
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic00
Pacific Islander00
White2325
 8.7%
Two or More Races00

Schools Near Big Sky School








Frequently Asked Questions about Big Sky School

In the 2023-24 school year, 24 students attended Big Sky School.

Big Sky School ranks in the bottom 0.6% of Montana elementary schools.

Students at Big Sky School are 100% White.

Students who attend Big Sky School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Browning Middle School
High : Browning 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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