Bissell 7-8

Q: Is Bissell 7-8 a good school?

Bissell 7-8 ranks 28 th of 187 Montana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Bissell 7-8 is a small public middle school located in Whitefish, Montana, serving grades 7-8 with an enrollment of just 16 students. It is part of the Olney-Bissell Elementary School District, which is ranked 59 out of 300 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bissell 7-8 stands out for its exceptionally low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 6.2 to 7.8 over the past 3 years, significantly lower than the nearby schools, which have ratios between 11.6 and 15.5. The school has also shown strong academic performance, outperforming the state averages in mathematics, reading, and science proficiency. In 2022-2023, the school had 41.18% proficiency in math, 64.71% in reading, and 54.55% in science, compared to the state averages of 36.59%, 46.03%, and 37.03% respectively. Additionally, Bissell 7-8 has a more diverse student population compared to the nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic and Native American students.

However, the school's performance has been inconsistent, with its statewide ranking varying significantly from 28th out of 187 middle schools in 2022-2023 to 165th out of 200 in 2020-2021. Furthermore, its performance is not always better than its feeder school, Olney-Bissell Elementary, raising questions about the alignment of curriculum and teaching practices between the two schools. Additionally, the proximity to Whitefish Middle 5-8, a much larger school with significantly higher test scores and a 5-star rating, suggests the need for further analysis and potential strategic planning to ensure the long-term success and alignment of Bissell 7-8 with the educational needs of the community.

Detail:

Public 7-8

5955 Farm To Market Road
Whitefish, MT 59937

(406) 862-2828

District: Olney-Bissell Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
28^th of 187 Montana Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,056

Students who attend Bissell 7-8 usually attend:

High:

Whitefish High School

Feeder schools for Bissell 7-8:

Elementary:

Bissell School

Student/teacher ratio: 6.2

Number of students: 16

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.8%

Hispanic:

12.5%

Two or more races:

12.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.1%

See top rated Montana middle schools

Compare Bissell 7-8 to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Bissell 7-8 ranks better than 85% of middle schools in Montana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 79.44. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Bissell 7-8 is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (68.8%), Hispanic (12.5%), two or more races (12.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bissell 7-8 is 6.2. (See more...)

Compare Bissell 7-8 employs 2.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bissell 7-8 is $21,056.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Bissell 7-8 was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Bissell 7-8 28^th of 187 Montana public middle schools. (See Bissell 7-8 in the ranking list.)

Olney-Bissell Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Olney-Bissell Elementary 59^th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Bissell 7-8

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MT State Percentile
2015	31.08	107^th	156	31.4%
2021	23.47	165^th	200	17.5%
2022	26.21	151^st	190	20.5%
2023	79.44	28^th	187	85.0%

See the entire list of Montana Middle School Rankings!

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

Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Bissell 7-8

Compare

Year	White	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1991	12	0	0	n/a	n/a	12
1992	13	1	0	n/a	n/a	14
1993	15	1	0	n/a	n/a	16
1994	18	0	0	n/a	n/a	18
1995	25	0	0	n/a	n/a	25
1996	25	0	0	n/a	n/a	25
1997	16	0	0	n/a	n/a	16
1998	20	0	0	n/a	n/a	20
1999	17	0	0	n/a	n/a	17
2000	15	0	0	n/a	n/a	15
2001	19	0	0	n/a	n/a	19
2002	12	0	3	n/a	n/a	15
2003	12	0	3	n/a	n/a	15
2004	14	0	1	n/a	n/a	15
2005	17	0	1	n/a	n/a	18
2006	14	0	1	n/a	n/a	15
2007	8	0	0	n/a	n/a	8
2008	11	0	0	n/a	n/a	11
2009	11	1	0	n/a	n/a	12
2010	9	1	1	n/a	n/a	11
2011	8	3	0	0	2	13
2012	10	3	0	0	2	15
2013	12	0	0	0	1	13
2014	9	0	0	0	1	10
2015	11	2	0	0	1	14
2016	9	1	0	0	0	10
2017	12	0	0	0	4	16
2018	12	2	1	0	4	19
2019	4	1	0	0	0	5
2020	12	1	0	0	1	14
2021	10	1	1	0	0	12
2022	7	1	2	0	2	12
2023	11	2	1	0	2	16

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 Bissell 7-8

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	12	1.0	12.0	0
1992	14	1.0	14.0	7.1
1993	16	2.0	8.0	12.5
1994	18	1.9	9.5	0
1995	25	2.4	10.4	16
1996	25	2.4	10.4	16
1997	16	2.9	5.5	0
1998	20	2.2	9.1	0
1999	17	1.7	10.0	0
2000	15	1.7	8.8	0
2001	19	1.7	11.2	0
2002	15	1.6	9.4	6.7
2003	15	1.6	9.4	6.7
2004	15	1.7	8.8	0
2005	18	1.8	10.0	22.2
2006	15	1.8	8.3	20
2007	8	1.8	4.4	n/a
2008	11	1.7	6.5	72.7
2009	12	1.5	8.0	50
2010	11	1.9	5.5	54.5
2011	13	1.9	6.8	69.2
2012	15	2.2	6.7	60
2013	13	2.1	6.0	69.2
2014	10	1.2	7.8	60
2015	14	2.0	7.0	57.1
2016	10	2.0	5.0	70
2017	16	1.9	8.2	81.3
2018	19	2.8	6.6	57.9
2019	5	2.4	2.0	n/a
2020	14	2.4	5.7	57.1
2021	12	1.8	6.4	n/a
2022	12	1.5	7.8	n/a
2023	16	2.5	6.2	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 Bissell 7-8

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	12	1.0	12.0	0
1992	14	1.0	14.0	7.1
1993	16	2.0	8.0	12.5
1994	18	1.9	9.5	0
1995	25	2.4	10.4	16
1996	25	2.4	10.4	16
1997	16	2.9	5.5	0
1998	20	2.2	9.1	0
1999	17	1.7	10.0	0
2000	15	1.7	8.8	0
2001	19	1.7	11.2	0
2002	15	1.6	9.4	6.7
2003	15	1.6	9.4	6.7
2004	15	1.7	8.8	0
2005	18	1.8	10.0	22.2
2006	15	1.8	8.3	20
2007	8	1.8	4.4	n/a
2008	11	1.7	6.5	72.7
2009	12	1.5	8.0	50
2010	11	1.9	5.5	54.5
2011	13	1.9	6.8	69.2
2012	15	2.2	6.7	60
2013	13	2.1	6.0	69.2
2014	10	1.2	7.8	60
2015	14	2.0	7.0	57.1
2016	10	2.0	5.0	70
2017	16	1.9	8.2	81.3
2018	19	2.8	6.6	57.9
2019	5	2.4	2.0	n/a
2020	14	2.4	5.7	57.1
2021	12	1.8	6.4	n/a
2022	12	1.5	7.8	n/a
2023	16	2.5	6.2	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 Bissell 7-8

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2021	$15,037
2022	$27,864
2023	$21,056

Data source: Montana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bissell 7-8

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 Students	5	16	220%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	1
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	1	2	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	4	11	175%
Two or More Races	0	2

Schools Near Bissell 7-8

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				Montana State Tests Mathematics (2023)	Montana State Tests Reading (2023)	Montana State Tests Science (2023)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Montana State Tests Mathematics All Grades	Montana State Tests Reading All Grades	Montana State Tests Science All Grades	Total
Bissell 7-8	Public	7-8	5955 Farm To Market Road	Whitefish	59937	Flathead County	Olney-Bissell Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 862-2828	16	3	6.2		11 (68.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (12.5%)	79.4	28^th of 187 public middle schools	85.0%		26.2	151^st of 190 public middle schools	20.5%	123	41.2	64.7	54.6	$21,056
Whitefish Middle 5-8	Public	5-8	600 East Second Street	Whitefish	59937	Flathead County	Whitefish Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 862-8650	660	42	15.5		620 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.3%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.9%)	87.1	14^th of 187 public middle schools	92.5%		88	16^th of 190 public middle schools	91.6%	2	52.4	65.2	56.6	$12,202
West Valley Middle School	Public	5-8	2290 Farm To Market Road	Kalispell	59901	Flathead County	West Valley Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 755-7239	338	23	15.0		305 (90.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.7%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.6%)	77.3	34^th of 187 public middle schools	81.8%		76.6	41^st of 190 public middle schools	78.4%	7	44.3	57.5	52.6	$7,967
Columbia Falls Junior High School	Public	6-8	1805 Talbot Road	Columbia Falls	59912	Flathead County	Columbia Falls Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 892-6530	526	37	14.1		459 (87.3%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (6.1%)	53.7	86^th of 187 public middle schools	54.0%		62.7	65^th of 190 public middle schools	65.8%	21	31.3	50.6	38.2	$12,812
Kalispell Middle School	Public	6-8	205 NW Lane	Kalispell	59901	Flathead County	Kalispell Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 751-3800	1,045	72	14.4		895 (85.6%)	8 (0.8%)	57 (5.5%)	10 (1.0%)	17 (1.6%)	3 (0.3%)	55 (5.3%)	74.9	38^th of 187 public middle schools	79.7%		70.9	55^th of 190 public middle schools	71.1%	17	41.9	56.6	52.3	$11,367
Helena Flats 7-8	Public	7-8	1000 Helena Flats Road	Kalispell	59901	Flathead County	Helena Flats Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 257-2301	51	4	14.5		49 (96.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	42.6	114^th of 187 public middle schools	39.0%		44.9	119^th of 190 public middle schools	37.4%	5	25.0	33.3	45.8	$10,010
Evergreen Junior High	Public	5-8	20 West Evergreen Drive	Kalispell	59901	Flathead County	Evergreen Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 751-1131	291	25	11.6		257 (88.3%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.6%)	41.2	117^th of 187 public middle schools	37.4%		42.4	123^rd of 190 public middle schools	35.3%	6	31.4	37.9	34.0	$15,378
Smith Valley 7-8	Public	7-8	2901 Highway 2 West	Kalispell	59901	Flathead County	Smith Valley Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 756-4535	56	4	14.8		53 (94.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.6%)	21.7	150^th of 187 public middle schools	19.8%		38.4	130^th of 190 public middle schools	31.6%	20	20.0	30.0	24.1	$9,073
Deer Park 6-8	Public	6-8	2105 Middle Road	Columbia Falls	59912	Flathead County	Deer Park Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 892-5388	63	4	14.4		60 (95.2%)	1 (1.6%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	74.6	39^th of 187 public middle schools	79.1%		87.9	17^th of 190 public middle schools	91.1%	22	36.7	66.7	50.0	$5,842
Fair-Mont-Egan Middle School	Public	6-8	797 Fairmont Road	Kalispell	59901	Flathead County	Fair-Mont-Egan Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 755-7072	46	4	13.1		44 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)	64.5	61^st of 187 public middle schools	67.4%		62.7	64^th of 190 public middle schools	66.3%	3	33.3	57.8	44.4	$10,005

Frequently Asked Questions about Bissell 7-8

What high school do graduates of Bissell 7-8 attend?

Students who attend Bissell 7-8 usually go on to attend Whitefish High School

What district is Bissell 7-8 in?

Olney-Bissell Elementary

How many students attend Bissell 7-8?

In the 2022-23 school year, 16 students attended Bissell 7-8.

Is Bissell 7-8 a good school?

Bissell 7-8 ranks 28^th of 187 Montana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Bissell 7-8?

Students at Bissell 7-8 are 69% White, 13% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 6% American Indian.

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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.