Northwest Montana News

Thompson Falls 7-8 had a total attendance of 71 students during the 2020-21 school year, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Attendance at the school saw a 2.7 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
…
249	Forsyth High School	90	101
250	Lame Deer 7-8	89	94
251	Roundup 7-8	88	77
252	Scobey High School	86	85
252	Philipsburg School	86	81
252	Barbara Gilligan School	86	72
255	Victor High School	85	102
255	Charlo High School	85	86
257	Heart Butte Elementary	84	99
258	Baker 7-8	83	70
259	Culbertson High School	81	84
259	Arlee 7-8	81	82
259	Belt High School	81	81
262	Lincoln Elementary School	80	72
263	Jordan Elementary School	76	76
264	Plains 7-8	75	86
265	Absarokee High School	74	80
265	Lambert School	74	76
267	Rocky Boy 7-8	73	86
267	Bonner 7-8	73	80
269	Thompson Falls 7-8	71	73
269	Valier School	71	64
269	Ulm School	71	63
272	Pioneer School	70	71
272	Twin Bridges High School	70	67
272	Bissell School	70	64
272	Troy 7-8	70	58
272	Plenty Coups High School	70	57
277	Sunburst Elementary	69	68
278	Sheridan High School	68	63
278	Box Elder 7-8	68	59
280	West Glacier School	66	65
280	Rau School	66	59
282	Shelby 7-8	65	55
283	Kinsey School	64	59
284	Hot Springs High School	62	60
284	Victor Middle School	62	60
286	Harlowton High School	61	60
286	Drummond High School	61	57
288	Canyon Creek 7-8	60	40
289	Augusta Elementary School	58	62
…
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