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Plains High School

Summary:

Plains High School is a public high school serving 138 students in grades 9-12 in Plains, Montana, which is part of the Plains K-12 District. While the school has a higher percentage of white students compared to nearby schools like Superior High School and Hot Springs High School, it has consistently underperformed in academic measures like test scores and has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past decade.

Plains High School's proficiency rates in Mathematics, Reading, and Science are all lower than the district and state averages, with just 29.03% of students proficient in Math, 40% in Reading, and 14.71% in Science. The school's statewide ranking has dropped from 13th out of 129 Montana high schools in 2011-2012 to 89th out of 124 in the 2022-2023 school year, and its rating has decreased from 5 stars to 1 star during this time. Additionally, the school has a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 14.7, higher than nearby schools like St. Regis High School (8.8) and Superior High School (9.7).

The declining performance and lower funding per student ($9,115 compared to $11,857 at Superior High School and $15,711 at St. Regis High School) suggest that Plains High School may need to examine its practices and strategies to improve its overall quality and competitiveness with other high schools in the region. The school's diversity also presents both challenges and opportunities in addressing the unique needs of its student population.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 412 Rittenour
       Plains, MT  59859

(406) 826-8600

District: Plains K-12

SchoolDigger Rank:
89th of 124 Montana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,171 Help


Feeder schools for Plains High School:

Elementary:    Plains Elementary School
Middle:    Plains 7-8

Student/teacher ratio:  12.5 Help
Number of students:  133

Racial breakdown:

White:
90.2%
Hispanic:
4.5%
Two or more races:
3.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  46.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Plains High School ranks worse than 71.8% of high schools in Montana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.3. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (90.2%), Hispanic (4.5%), two or more races (3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 46.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Plains High School is 12.5. (See more...)
Help
Compare Plains High School employs 10.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Plains High School is $14,171.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Plains High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Plains High School 89th of 124 Montana public high schools. (See Plains High School in the ranking list.)

Plains K-12:

SchoolDigger ranks Plains K-12 153rd of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Plains High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 52.39 75th 137 45.3%
2005 63.22 57th 142 59.9%
2006 30.93 105th 138 23.9%
2007 67.78 40th 136 70.6%
2008 26.34 114th 139 18.0%
2009 71.77 25th 135 81.5%
2010 70.89 32nd 135 76.3%
2011 60.84 57th 122 53.3%
2012 82.24 13th 129 89.9%
2013 74.23 26th 128 79.7%
2015 61.69 38th 92 58.7%
2017 38.25 72nd 111 35.1%
2018 69.33 29th 119 75.6%
2019 38.80 75th 119 37.0%
2021 29.09 96th 138 30.4%
2022 12.91 91st 114 20.2%
2023 29.30 89th 124 28.2%
See the entire list of Montana High School Rankings!

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

Plains High 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 Plains High 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 170 170
1991 152 0 1 1 5 n/a n/a 0 159
1992 161 0 2 1 1 n/a n/a 0 165
1993 174 0 2 2 4 n/a n/a 0 182
1994 174 0 2 1 5 n/a n/a 0 182
1995 162 0 3 2 4 n/a n/a 0 171
1996 162 0 3 2 4 n/a n/a 0 171
1997 162 1 2 1 5 n/a n/a 0 171
1998 168 3 4 0 6 n/a n/a 0 181
1999 178 4 1 2 11 n/a n/a 0 196
2000 175 2 4 2 8 n/a n/a 0 191
2001 173 0 3 6 7 n/a n/a 0 189
2002 171 0 1 1 2 n/a n/a 0 175
2003 171 0 1 1 2 n/a n/a 0 175
2004 170 0 2 6 3 n/a n/a 0 181
2005 177 1 2 6 2 n/a n/a 0 188
2006 175 1 2 2 2 n/a n/a 0 182
2007 165 1 0 7 5 n/a n/a 0 178
2008 156 0 0 4 7 n/a n/a 0 167
2009 140 0 3 5 5 n/a n/a 0 153
2010 132 1 3 5 8 n/a n/a 0 149
2011 135 1 3 6 10 0 0 0 155
2012 134 1 6 4 16 1 0 0 162
2013 126 1 4 3 15 0 0 0 149
2014 117 0 6 4 15 0 0 0 142
2015 119 0 4 6 14 0 0 0 143
2016 111 0 3 5 12 0 2 0 133
2017 97 0 2 9 4 0 1 0 113
2018 102 0 1 9 4 0 1 0 117
2019 118 0 1 7 3 2 1 0 132
2020 135 0 0 9 3 1 1 0 149
2021 132 1 1 7 4 1 4 0 150
2022 131 0 0 5 3 1 3 0 143
2023 123 0 0 8 2 0 5 0 138
2024 120 0 0 6 3 0 4 0 133

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 Plains High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 170 10.9 15.5 21.8
1991 159 11.5 13.8 24.5
1992 165 10.8 15.2 28.5
1993 182 10.5 17.3 28
1994 182 12.2 14.9 23.6
1995 171 11.6 14.7 21.1
1996 171 11.6 14.7 21.1
1997 171 11.2 15.3 16.4
1998 181 11.9 15.2 42.5
1999 196 11.9 16.5 40.3
2000 191 12.7 15.0 41.4
2001 189 12.6 15.0 37
2002 175 11.8 14.8 36
2003 175 11.8 14.8 36
2004 181 13.1 13.8 42
2005 188 12.5 15.0 39.4
2006 182 13.0 14.0 44
2007 178 13.0 13.7 36.5
2008 167 12.9 12.9 43.1
2009 153 13.7 11.2 49.7
2010 149 13.1 11.3 51.7
2011 155 12.5 12.3 43.2
2012 162 11.9 13.6 47.5
2013 149 11.7 12.6 55
2014 142 11.1 12.7 54.9
2015 143 10.0 14.3 58
2016 133 9.0 14.7 56.4
2017 113 8.8 12.7 54
2018 117 9.5 12.2 59
2019 132 9.0 14.6 54.5
2020 149 9.1 16.2 47
2021 150 9.8 15.2 n/a
2022 143 9.7 14.7 n/a
2023 138 9.3 14.7 n/a
2024 133 10.6 12.5 46.6

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 Plains High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 170 10.9 15.5 21.8
1991 159 11.5 13.8 24.5
1992 165 10.8 15.2 28.5
1993 182 10.5 17.3 28
1994 182 12.2 14.9 23.6
1995 171 11.6 14.7 21.1
1996 171 11.6 14.7 21.1
1997 171 11.2 15.3 16.4
1998 181 11.9 15.2 42.5
1999 196 11.9 16.5 40.3
2000 191 12.7 15.0 41.4
2001 189 12.6 15.0 37
2002 175 11.8 14.8 36
2003 175 11.8 14.8 36
2004 181 13.1 13.8 42
2005 188 12.5 15.0 39.4
2006 182 13.0 14.0 44
2007 178 13.0 13.7 36.5
2008 167 12.9 12.9 43.1
2009 153 13.7 11.2 49.7
2010 149 13.1 11.3 51.7
2011 155 12.5 12.3 43.2
2012 162 11.9 13.6 47.5
2013 149 11.7 12.6 55
2014 142 11.1 12.7 54.9
2015 143 10.0 14.3 58
2016 133 9.0 14.7 56.4
2017 113 8.8 12.7 54
2018 117 9.5 12.2 59
2019 132 9.0 14.6 54.5
2020 149 9.1 16.2 47
2021 150 9.8 15.2 n/a
2022 143 9.7 14.7 n/a
2023 138 9.3 14.7 n/a
2024 133 10.6 12.5 46.6

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 Plains High School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $9,115
2021 $13,220
2022 $13,528
2023 $14,171

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Plains High 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.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 75th of 119 High schoolsRanks 89th of 124 High schools
 8.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students132138
 4.5%
African American00
American Indian32
 33.3%
Asian10
 100%
Hispanic78
 14.3%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White118123
 4.2%
Two or More Races15
 400%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Plains High School

Plains High School ranks 89th of 124 Montana high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Students at Plains High School are 90% White, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

Plains High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Plains Elementary School
Middle : Plains 7-8

In the 2023-24 school year, 133 students attended Plains 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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