Central Montana Times

Fort Benton 7-8 had a total attendance of 50 students during the 2020-21 school year, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Attendance at the school saw a 11.1 percent increase over the previous school year.

According to data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment is projected to increase by seven percent in Montana from 2017 to 2029. The state expected to see the largest increase in enrollment is North Dakota, with a projected 16% increase. The state that is expected to see the largest decrease in enrollment is New Mexico, with a projected 12% decrease.

According to the findings of a study conducted by Montana Small Schools Alliance, student enrollment in Montana has a significant impact on a number of factors such as a decrease in school funding, elimination of faculty, and possible school consolidation or closure.

Ranking	School	Enrollment (2020-21)	Previous Year Enrollment (2019-20)
1	Flathead High School	1,607	1,516
2	Glacier High School	1,345	1,328
3	Butte High School	1,280	1,216
4	Sentinel High School	1,278	1,250
5	Hellgate High School	1,210	1,177
6	Big Sky High School	1,137	1,100
7	Belgrade Middle School	1,053	1,088
8	Kalispell Middle School	1,030	1,061
9	Belgrade High School	987	1,001
10	Sacajawea Middle School	830	862
11	East Middle School	809	831
12	North Middle School	759	787
13	Chief Joseph Middle School	742	760
14	Washington Middle School	668	666
15	East Middle School	647	650
16	Laurel High School	646	641
17	Browning High School	611	595
18	Porter Middle School	604	626
19	Laurel Middle School	590	636
20	Whitefish High School	588	579
…
286	Drummond High School	61	57
288	Canyon Creek 7-8	60	40
289	Augusta Elementary School	58	62
289	Potomac School	58	55
291	Noxon High School	55	67
291	Superior 7-8	55	56
293	Granite High School	54	60
293	East Glacier Park School	54	57
295	Centerville High School	53	66
295	Ennis 7-8	53	62
295	Darby 7-8	53	51
295	Dutton/Brady Elementary	53	51
295	Hays-Lodge Pole 7-8	53	45
300	Plentywood 7-8	52	60
300	Bridger High School	52	58
300	Forsyth 7-8	52	43
303	Fortine School	51	84
303	Choteau 7-8	51	55
305	Wyola School	50	57
305	Cascade 7-8	50	47
305	Fort Benton 7-8	50	45
308	North Star High School	49	53
308	Smith Valley 7-8	49	46
308	Culbertson 7-8	49	35
311	Gardiner High School	48	58
312	Cayuse Prairie 7-8	47	48
313	LaMotte School	46	48
313	Belt 7-8	46	43
313	Sunburst High School	46	41
316	Morin School	45	40
317	Dixon Elementary	43	52
317	Gallatin Gateway 7-8	43	50
317	Trout Creek School	43	48
317	Wibaux High School	43	38
321	West Yellowstone 7-8	42	53
322	Kircher School	41	38
322	Golden Ridge School	41	37
324	Hobson High School	40	38
325	Ryegate School	39	37
325	Helena Flats 7-8	39	37
327	Fairview 7-8	38	43
…
463	North Harlem Elementary	9	13
463	Dixon 7-8	9	11
463	Willow Creek 7-8	9	10
463	King Colony School	9	9
463	Winnett 7-8	9	8
463	Alzada School	9	8
463	Reed Point 7-8	9	6
463	Benton Lake School	9	6
472	Augusta 7-8	8	9
472	Zenith Elementary	8	8
472	Spring Creek School	8	6
475	Denton High School	7	15
475	Hysham High School	7	13
475	Saco 7-8	7	10
475	Hysham 7-8	7	9
475	Divide School	7	7
475	Greycliff School	7	6
475	Ayers School	7	6
482	Jackson School	6	5
483	Carter School	5	11