Northwest Montana News

Whitefish High School had a total attendance of 588 students during the 2020-21 school year, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Attendance at the school saw a 1.6 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
21	Whitefish Middle 5-8	586	620
22	Havre High School	534	504
23	Meadow Lark School	512	530
23	Hardin High School	512	509
25	Polson High School	507	481
26	Hamilton High School	505	474
27	Meadowlark School	504	530
28	Meadow Hill Middle School	500	537
28	Daly School	500	319
30	West Elementary School	498	510
31	Boulder School	484	479
32	Emily Dickinson School	480	519
33	Corvallis High School	479	481
34	Ronan Middle School	474	485
34	West Valley School	474	465
36	Hamilton Middle School	464	482
37	Ruder Elementary	458	476
38	Hardin Middle School	457	455
38	Frenchtown High School	457	417
40	Parkview School	445	498
40	Ridge View Elementary	445	472
42	Edgerton School	440	471
43	Hyalite Elementary	439	476
44	Bigfork Elementary	436	463
44	Riverview School	436	429
44	Browning Middle School	436	260
47	Morning Star School	433	487
47	Target Range School	433	451
49	West Elementary	431	426
50	Radley Elementary School	427	427
51	Whittier School	423	435
52	East Valley Middle School	422	420
53	Arrowhead School	419	422
54	Quentin Brown Primary K-4	418	506
55	Paxson School	416	475
55	Lockwood Middle School	416	412
57	Hillcrest School	413	419
57	Park High School	413	418
59	Sandstone School	411	421
60	Sidney High School	408	403
61	Heck/Quaw Elementary	405	438
…
463	Wisdom School	9	14
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