Southeast Montana News

Orchard School had a total attendance of 281 students during the 2020-21 school year, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Attendance at the school saw a 14.8 percent decrease from 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
…
92	Valley View School	324	339
93	Linderman School	318	310
94	Hawthorne School	315	363
94	Bigfork High School	315	339
96	Broadwater School	314	350
97	Sidney Middle School	313	309
98	Lolo Elementary	306	295
99	Poly Drive School	305	329
100	Bitterroot School	303	336
100	Highland Park School	303	307
102	Franklin School	302	320
103	Bench School	300	331
104	Napi School	293	429
104	Hardin Primary	293	325
106	Lakeside Elementary School	291	380
106	Cornelius Hedges School	291	331
108	Montana City School	290	318
108	Jefferson High School	290	289
110	Independent School	289	310
111	Lame Deer School	287	312
112	Orchard School	281	330
112	Ponderosa School	281	299
114	Washington Middle School	279	296
115	Highland Park School	277	289
116	Chief Joseph School	273	289
117	Bonner School	271	254
118	McKinley School	269	305
119	Longfellow School	268	309
120	Crow Agency School	267	296
121	Hardin Intermediate	266	308
122	Browning Elementary	263	280
122	Clancy School	263	253
124	Somers Middle School	262	196
125	Elysian School	260	290
126	Washington School	259	306
126	Lincoln School	259	269
128	West School	256	298
129	East Side School	255	317
129	Miles Avenue School	255	274
131	Jefferson School	253	281
132	Lowell School	252	287
…
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