Big Sky High School

Summary:

Big Sky High School is a public high school in Missoula, Montana, serving 1,186 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Missoula High School District, which is ranked 124 out of 300 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Compared to nearby schools like Hellgate High School and Sentinel High School, Big Sky High School has a more diverse student population, with 83.81% White, 2.19% African American, 3.96% Hispanic, 1.94% Asian, 6.58% Native American, 0.17% Pacific Islander, and 1.35% two or more races. However, its academic performance, as measured by state test scores, is generally lower than the nearby top-performing schools, with proficiency rates of 27.9% in Mathematics, 54.78% in Reading, and 26.41% in Science.

Big Sky High School's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, ranging from 34th out of 114 Montana high schools in 2021-2022 (4 stars) to 60th out of 124 high schools in 2022-2023 (3 stars). While its performance is lower than the nearby top-performing schools, it is generally on par with or slightly below the Missoula High School District and the state of Montana averages. This suggests that there may be opportunities for the school to implement targeted interventions and learn from the practices of the higher-performing schools in the region to improve student outcomes.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 3100 South Avenue West
       Missoula, MT  59804


(406) 728-2401

District: Missoula High School

SchoolDigger Rank:
60th of 124 Montana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,347 Help


Feeder schools for Big Sky High School:

Elementary:    DeSmet School
    Hawthorne School
    Hellgate Elementary Lower Grades
    Hellgate Elementary Primary Grades
    More...
Middle:    DeSmet 6-8
    Hellgate Elementary Intermediate
    Hellgate Middle School
    Target Range 7-8

Student/teacher ratio:  14.8 Help
Number of students:  1,227

Racial breakdown:

White:
84.5%
American Indian:
6.3%
Hispanic:
3.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  41.2% Help


 See top rated Montana high schools

 Compare Big Sky High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Big Sky High School ranks better than 51.6% of high schools in Montana. It also ranks 3rd among 4 ranked high schools in the Missoula High School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 45.11. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (84.5%), American Indian (6.3%), Hispanic (3.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 41.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Big Sky High School is 14.8. 2 high schools in the Missoula High School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Big Sky High School employs 82.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Big Sky High School is $13,347, which is the 2nd highest among 4 high schools in the Missoula High School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Big Sky High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Big Sky High School 60th of 124 Montana public high schools. (See Big Sky High School in the ranking list.)

Missoula High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Missoula High School 124th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Big Sky High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 55.93 65th 137 52.6%
2005 58.19 78th 142 45.1%
2006 58.78 63rd 138 54.3%
2007 52.24 80th 136 41.2%
2008 56.87 68th 139 51.1%
2009 49.43 83rd 135 38.5%
2010 64.65 53rd 135 60.7%
2011 63.56 48th 122 60.7%
2012 43.77 89th 129 31.0%
2013 57.04 53rd 128 58.6%
2016 45.36 69th 113 38.9%
2017 51.37 51st 111 54.1%
2018 43.75 71st 119 40.3%
2019 45.10 62nd 119 47.9%
2021 32.22 85th 138 38.4%
2022 41.21 34th 114 70.2%
2023 45.11 60th 124 51.6%
See the entire list of Montana High School Rankings!

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

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



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Big Sky 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 1126 1126
1991 1075 1 14 4 9 n/a n/a 0 1103
1992 1131 1 9 6 11 n/a n/a 0 1158
1993 1127 2 17 11 22 n/a n/a 0 1179
1994 1200 1 21 12 19 n/a n/a 0 1253
1995 1238 5 27 11 25 n/a n/a 0 1306
1996 1238 5 27 11 25 n/a n/a 0 1306
1997 1252 2 30 16 29 n/a n/a 0 1329
1998 1230 2 32 14 29 n/a n/a 0 1307
1999 1231 2 35 15 30 n/a n/a 0 1313
2000 1237 2 28 12 27 n/a n/a 0 1306
2001 1235 4 28 13 35 n/a n/a 0 1315
2002 1316 6 27 13 41 n/a n/a 0 1403
2003 1316 6 27 13 41 n/a n/a 0 1403
2004 1276 8 29 14 47 n/a n/a 0 1374
2005 1323 13 29 20 53 n/a n/a 0 1438
2006 1232 7 31 20 59 n/a n/a 0 1349
2007 1198 9 26 15 44 n/a n/a 0 1292
2008 1133 9 34 15 35 n/a n/a 0 1226
2009 990 5 31 14 53 n/a n/a 0 1093
2010 971 10 24 18 38 n/a n/a 0 1061
2011 934 6 27 20 48 2 1 0 1038
2012 923 5 26 27 54 0 8 0 1043
2013 886 9 21 31 54 1 8 0 1010
2014 903 14 23 37 67 1 15 0 1060
2015 894 16 23 52 71 4 0 0 1060
2016 903 17 21 58 70 6 0 0 1075
2017 958 16 25 48 82 3 6 0 1138
2018 927 23 27 49 82 4 0 0 1112
2019 940 21 27 34 88 4 2 0 1116
2020 929 23 22 45 78 3 0 0 1100
2021 950 26 23 53 83 2 0 0 1137
2022 979 23 19 52 74 4 6 0 1157
2023 994 26 23 47 78 2 16 0 1186
2024 1037 23 23 44 77 4 19 0 1227

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 Big Sky High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 1126 74.2 15.1 13.2
1991 1103 64.0 17.2 10
1992 1158 67.7 17.1 12.1
1993 1179 62.5 18.9 12.2
1994 1253 68.3 18.3 13.3
1995 1306 79.5 16.4 16.2
1996 1306 79.5 16.4 16.2
1997 1329 80.3 16.6 16.3
1998 1307 76.4 17.1 17.4
1999 1313 82.3 16.0 20.6
2000 1306 82.1 15.9 20.2
2001 1315 86.8 15.1 20.6
2002 1403 83.8 16.7 20.9
2003 1403 83.8 16.7 20.9
2004 1374 80.0 17.2 22.8
2005 1438 79.2 18.2 24.3
2006 1349 80.5 16.8 27.5
2007 1292 80.9 16.0 33
2008 1226 77.4 15.8 26.8
2009 1093 74.9 14.6 31.7
2010 1061 75.3 14.0 33.7
2011 1038 67.2 15.4 39.2
2012 1043 68.8 15.1 36.5
2013 1010 66.0 15.2 34.4
2014 1060 68.7 15.4 42.2
2015 1060 66.0 16.0 34.5
2016 1075 68.0 15.8 37.7
2017 1138 74.8 15.1 35.1
2018 1112 68.9 16.1 31
2019 1116 68.4 16.3 23.7
2020 1100 70.2 15.6 16.1
2021 1137 65.5 17.3 n/a
2022 1157 79.0 14.6 n/a
2023 1186 85.6 13.8 n/a
2024 1227 82.6 14.8 41.2

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 Big Sky High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 1126 74.2 15.1 13.2
1991 1103 64.0 17.2 10
1992 1158 67.7 17.1 12.1
1993 1179 62.5 18.9 12.2
1994 1253 68.3 18.3 13.3
1995 1306 79.5 16.4 16.2
1996 1306 79.5 16.4 16.2
1997 1329 80.3 16.6 16.3
1998 1307 76.4 17.1 17.4
1999 1313 82.3 16.0 20.6
2000 1306 82.1 15.9 20.2
2001 1315 86.8 15.1 20.6
2002 1403 83.8 16.7 20.9
2003 1403 83.8 16.7 20.9
2004 1374 80.0 17.2 22.8
2005 1438 79.2 18.2 24.3
2006 1349 80.5 16.8 27.5
2007 1292 80.9 16.0 33
2008 1226 77.4 15.8 26.8
2009 1093 74.9 14.6 31.7
2010 1061 75.3 14.0 33.7
2011 1038 67.2 15.4 39.2
2012 1043 68.8 15.1 36.5
2013 1010 66.0 15.2 34.4
2014 1060 68.7 15.4 42.2
2015 1060 66.0 16.0 34.5
2016 1075 68.0 15.8 37.7
2017 1138 74.8 15.1 35.1
2018 1112 68.9 16.1 31
2019 1116 68.4 16.3 23.7
2020 1100 70.2 15.6 16.1
2021 1137 65.5 17.3 n/a
2022 1157 79.0 14.6 n/a
2023 1186 85.6 13.8 n/a
2024 1227 82.6 14.8 41.2

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 Big Sky High School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2021 $12,950
2022 $12,871
2023 $13,347

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Big Sky 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 62nd of 119 High schoolsRanks 60th of 124 High schools
 3.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students11161186
 6.3%
African American2126
 23.8%
American Indian8878
 11.4%
Asian2723
 14.8%
Hispanic3447
 38.2%
Pacific Islander42
 50%
White940994
 5.7%
Two or More Races216
 700%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Big Sky High School

Students at Big Sky High School are 85% White, 6% American Indian, 4% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,227 students attended Big Sky High School.

Big Sky High School ranks 60th of 124 Montana high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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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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