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Polson High School

Summary:

Polson High School is a public high school in Polson, Montana, serving 524 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Polson High School District, which is ranked 108 out of 300 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Polson High School stands out for its relatively diverse student population, with 63.55% White and 31.49% Native American students, which is higher than nearby Charlo High School at 73.49% White. Academically, Polson High School performs on par with or slightly above the state average, with 56.07% of students proficient or better in Reading, compared to the state average of 46.03%. However, the school's performance in Mathematics (36.36% proficient) and Science (27.12% proficient) is slightly below the state averages. Polson High School also has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.8, lower than the nearby Ronan High School (17.7) and Charlo High School (12.2).

Polson High School has maintained a consistent 3-star rating from SchoolDigger over the past several years, ranking between 33rd and 66th out of Montana high schools. While the school's academic performance is generally strong, there is room for improvement, particularly in Mathematics and Science proficiency. Addressing these areas could help Polson High School further differentiate itself and improve its overall academic standing within the state.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1712 2nd Street West
       Polson, MT  59860

(406) 883-6351

District: Polson High School

SchoolDigger Rank:
45th of 124 Montana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,957 Help


Feeder schools for Polson High School:

Elementary:    Cherry Valley School
    Dayton School
    Linderman School
    Valley View School
Middle:    Polson Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.8 Help
Number of students:  524

Racial breakdown:

White:
63.5%
American Indian:
31.5%
Two or more races:
1.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  32.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Polson High School ranks better than 63.7% of high schools in Montana. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.69. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (63.5%), American Indian (31.5%), two or more races (1.5%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Polson High School is 13.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Polson High School employs 37.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Polson High School is $13,957.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Polson High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Polson High School 45th of 124 Montana public high schools. (See Polson High School in the ranking list.)

Polson High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Polson High School 108th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Polson High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 64.22 57th 137 58.4%
2005 54.66 82nd 142 42.3%
2006 31.98 102nd 138 26.1%
2007 63.42 50th 136 63.2%
2008 55.89 72nd 139 48.2%
2009 63.65 42nd 135 68.9%
2010 69.14 38th 135 71.9%
2011 65.65 43rd 122 64.8%
2012 40.82 93rd 129 27.9%
2013 56.16 62nd 128 51.6%
2015 62.87 33rd 92 64.1%
2016 62.59 36th 113 68.1%
2017 43.16 66th 111 40.5%
2018 61.59 43rd 119 63.9%
2019 60.02 39th 119 67.2%
2021 45.41 62nd 138 55.1%
2022 40.64 37th 114 67.5%
2023 52.69 45th 124 63.7%
See the entire list of Montana High School Rankings!

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

Polson High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Polson 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 422 422
1991 356 0 0 1 78 n/a n/a 0 435
1992 378 0 0 0 75 n/a n/a 0 453
1993 364 0 0 0 84 n/a n/a 0 448
1994 373 0 0 0 93 n/a n/a 0 466
1995 430 1 0 1 93 n/a n/a 0 525
1996 430 1 0 1 93 n/a n/a 0 525
1997 433 1 2 2 77 n/a n/a 0 515
1998 442 2 4 6 107 n/a n/a 0 561
1999 425 1 7 4 113 n/a n/a 0 550
2000 420 0 9 4 107 n/a n/a 0 540
2001 424 0 9 7 99 n/a n/a 0 539
2002 413 0 8 4 96 n/a n/a 0 521
2003 413 0 8 4 96 n/a n/a 0 521
2004 416 0 4 7 99 n/a n/a 0 526
2005 421 0 5 10 116 n/a n/a 0 552
2006 417 0 8 7 121 n/a n/a 0 553
2007 403 0 7 14 119 n/a n/a 0 543
2008 390 0 9 12 129 n/a n/a 0 540
2009 360 1 10 16 112 n/a n/a 0 499
2010 346 2 7 15 120 n/a n/a 0 490
2011 331 4 3 15 160 4 0 0 517
2012 343 1 5 15 154 3 0 0 521
2013 332 1 4 12 154 1 0 0 504
2014 349 1 3 10 143 1 2 0 509
2015 315 2 2 18 140 2 3 0 482
2016 306 4 0 20 144 1 2 0 477
2017 297 4 2 15 153 1 3 0 475
2018 287 4 4 16 156 2 2 0 471
2019 317 4 3 7 152 1 0 0 484
2020 323 6 4 6 139 1 2 0 481
2021 336 5 2 7 153 2 2 0 507
2022 336 6 2 8 151 2 6 0 511
2023 333 7 3 6 165 2 8 0 524

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 Polson High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 422 26.4 15.9 28
1991 435 25.0 17.4 9.9
1992 453 25.6 17.6 19.4
1993 448 28.8 15.6 20.8
1994 466 24.4 19.1 19.5
1995 525 30.7 17.1 17.5
1996 525 30.7 17.1 17.5
1997 515 30.9 16.7 17.9
1998 561 31.0 18.1 17.6
1999 550 30.2 18.2 31.3
2000 540 30.3 17.8 29.3
2001 539 32.9 16.4 21.2
2002 521 32.9 15.8 28
2003 521 32.9 15.8 28
2004 526 32.5 16.2 24.3
2005 552 33.1 16.7 24.5
2006 553 33.5 16.5 28.6
2007 543 32.9 16.5 28.4
2008 540 34.5 15.7 30.4
2009 499 34.6 14.4 30.9
2010 490 33.0 14.8 35.7
2011 517 33.8 15.2 38.3
2012 521 32.9 15.8 38.4
2013 504 32.3 15.5 36.1
2014 509 33.8 15.0 34.6
2015 482 34.0 14.1 40.2
2016 477 34.0 14.0 38.2
2017 475 32.1 14.7 37.3
2018 471 32.1 14.6 37.8
2019 484 32.0 15.1 36.6
2020 481 32.5 14.7 32.6
2021 507 36.3 13.9 n/a
2022 511 35.6 14.3 n/a
2023 524 37.8 13.8 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 Polson High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 422 26.4 15.9 28
1991 435 25.0 17.4 9.9
1992 453 25.6 17.6 19.4
1993 448 28.8 15.6 20.8
1994 466 24.4 19.1 19.5
1995 525 30.7 17.1 17.5
1996 525 30.7 17.1 17.5
1997 515 30.9 16.7 17.9
1998 561 31.0 18.1 17.6
1999 550 30.2 18.2 31.3
2000 540 30.3 17.8 29.3
2001 539 32.9 16.4 21.2
2002 521 32.9 15.8 28
2003 521 32.9 15.8 28
2004 526 32.5 16.2 24.3
2005 552 33.1 16.7 24.5
2006 553 33.5 16.5 28.6
2007 543 32.9 16.5 28.4
2008 540 34.5 15.7 30.4
2009 499 34.6 14.4 30.9
2010 490 33.0 14.8 35.7
2011 517 33.8 15.2 38.3
2012 521 32.9 15.8 38.4
2013 504 32.3 15.5 36.1
2014 509 33.8 15.0 34.6
2015 482 34.0 14.1 40.2
2016 477 34.0 14.0 38.2
2017 475 32.1 14.7 37.3
2018 471 32.1 14.6 37.8
2019 484 32.0 15.1 36.6
2020 481 32.5 14.7 32.6
2021 507 36.3 13.9 n/a
2022 511 35.6 14.3 n/a
2023 524 37.8 13.8 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 Polson High School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $9,922
2021 $13,367
2022 $13,329
2023 $13,957

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Polson 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 39th of 119 High schoolsRanks 45th of 124 High schools
 3.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students484524
 8.3%
African American47
 75%
American Indian152165
 8.6%
Asian33
Hispanic76
 14.3%
Pacific Islander12
 100%
White317333
 5%
Two or More Races08

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Frequently Asked Questions about Polson High School

Polson High School ranks 45th of 124 Montana high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Polson High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cherry Valley School
Elementary : Dayton School
Elementary : Linderman School
Elementary : Valley View School
Middle : Polson Middle School

Students at Polson High School are 64% White, 31% American Indian, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Hispanic.

In the 2022-23 school year, 524 students attended Polson 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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