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Poplar School

Summary:

Poplar School is an elementary school in Poplar, Montana, serving 333 students in grades PK-4. The school has a unique student population, with over 96% of its students identifying as Native American, and it is part of the Poplar Elementary District, which is ranked 287 out of 300 districts in the state.

Poplar School consistently performs significantly below the state average in both mathematics and reading proficiency on Montana state tests. In the 2022-2023 school year, only 11.45% of Poplar School students were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to the state average of 36.59%, and only 12.98% were proficient or better in reading, compared to the state average of 46.03%. This academic underperformance has led to Poplar School ranking in the bottom 10-15% of Montana elementary schools over the past decade, with its most recent ranking at 313 out of 332 schools. However, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 10.1 to 10.4 students per teacher in recent years.

Interestingly, the nearby Frontier School and Barbara Gilligan School, which also serve predominantly Native American student populations, perform significantly better than Poplar School on academic measures. This suggests that factors beyond just student demographics may be contributing to the academic struggles at Poplar School. Additionally, the per-student spending at Poplar School ($14,787 in 2018-2019) is higher than the state average, but it is unclear how these resources are being utilized to support student learning, raising questions about the effectiveness of resource allocation and the potential need for more targeted, evidence-based interventions.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

 400 4th Avenue West
       Poplar, MT  59255

(406) 768-6630

District: Poplar Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
313th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $23,261 Help


Students who attend Poplar School usually attend:

Middle:    Poplar 5-6 School
    Poplar 7-8
High:    Poplar High School

Student/teacher ratio:  9.2 Help
Number of students:  334

Racial breakdown:

American Indian:
96.1%
White:
2.1%
Two or more races:
1.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Poplar School ranks worse than 94.3% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 6.56. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: American Indian (96.1%), White (2.1%), two or more races (1.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Poplar School is 9.2. (See more...)
Help
Compare Poplar School employs 36 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Poplar School is $23,261.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Poplar School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Poplar Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Poplar Elementary 287th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Poplar School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 0.97 214th 217 1.4%
2005 0.62 212th 218 2.8%
2006 3.15 228th 234 2.6%
2007 1.66 226th 230 1.7%
2008 1.31 192nd 194 1.0%
2009 3.78 183rd 190 3.7%
2010 0.26 241st 241 0.0%
2011 0.47 244th 247 1.2%
2012 0.26 241st 244 1.2%
2013 1.82 239th 246 2.8%
2015 4.88 279th 287 2.8%
2021 7.20 338th 356 5.1%
2022 8.47 311th 329 5.5%
2023 6.56 313th 332 5.7%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Poplar 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 Poplar 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 437 437
1991 29 3 0 0 411 n/a n/a 0 443
1992 46 3 0 0 417 n/a n/a 0 466
1993 27 0 0 0 447 n/a n/a 0 474
1994 33 1 3 2 472 n/a n/a 0 511
1995 33 0 1 1 494 n/a n/a 0 529
1996 33 0 1 1 494 n/a n/a 0 529
1997 25 0 0 2 465 n/a n/a 0 492
1998 21 0 0 1 463 n/a n/a 0 485
1999 20 0 2 0 460 n/a n/a 0 482
2000 17 0 3 0 424 n/a n/a 0 444
2001 16 0 3 0 410 n/a n/a 0 429
2002 6 0 3 0 379 n/a n/a 0 388
2003 6 0 3 0 379 n/a n/a 0 388
2004 5 0 1 0 354 n/a n/a 0 360
2005 1 0 1 1 337 n/a n/a 0 340
2006 1 0 2 0 313 n/a n/a 0 316
2007 4 0 1 0 325 n/a n/a 0 330
2008 6 0 1 0 310 n/a n/a 0 317
2009 7 0 1 0 317 n/a n/a 0 325
2010 6 0 1 0 309 n/a n/a 0 316
2011 4 1 0 3 321 0 8 0 337
2012 4 0 0 2 333 0 10 0 349
2013 8 0 0 2 350 0 7 0 367
2014 2 0 0 0 370 0 5 0 377
2015 5 0 0 1 382 0 4 0 392
2016 3 0 0 1 402 1 4 0 411
2017 5 0 1 1 398 1 4 0 410
2018 2 0 1 2 410 1 4 0 420
2019 3 0 0 3 385 1 2 0 394
2020 3 0 0 6 354 1 5 0 369
2021 4 0 1 2 331 1 2 0 341
2022 3 0 1 2 315 0 5 0 326
2023 6 0 0 1 320 0 6 0 333
2024 7 0 0 0 321 0 6 0 334

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 Poplar School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 437 27.0 16.1 66.6
1991 443 23.0 19.2 34.5
1992 466 21.0 22.1 74.5
1993 474 31.0 15.3 80.6
1994 511 27.5 18.6 94.9
1995 529 32.5 16.3 80.9
1996 529 32.5 16.3 80.9
1997 492 29.1 16.9 84.6
1998 485 31.4 15.4 74
1999 482 31.6 15.3 66.6
2000 444 32.6 13.6 73
2001 429 36.1 11.9 82.8
2002 388 35.6 10.9 72.4
2003 388 35.6 10.9 72.4
2004 360 36.1 10.0 65
2005 340 35.5 9.6 69.4
2006 316 34.2 9.2 85.1
2007 330 34.2 9.6 87.6
2008 317 34.0 9.3 85.8
2009 325 30.3 10.7 86.5
2010 316 30.2 10.4 99.1
2011 337 30.2 11.1 99.1
2012 349 30.2 11.5 99.1
2013 367 30.2 12.1 99.2
2014 377 32.0 11.7 99.2
2015 392 27.0 14.5 99.2
2016 411 30.0 13.7 100
2017 410 33.0 12.4 100
2018 420 32.0 13.1 100
2019 394 32.0 12.3 71.1
2020 369 32.0 11.5 97.6
2021 341 33.0 10.3 n/a
2022 326 32.0 10.1 n/a
2023 333 32.0 10.4 n/a
2024 334 36.0 9.2 100

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 Poplar School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 437 27.0 16.1 66.6
1991 443 23.0 19.2 34.5
1992 466 21.0 22.1 74.5
1993 474 31.0 15.3 80.6
1994 511 27.5 18.6 94.9
1995 529 32.5 16.3 80.9
1996 529 32.5 16.3 80.9
1997 492 29.1 16.9 84.6
1998 485 31.4 15.4 74
1999 482 31.6 15.3 66.6
2000 444 32.6 13.6 73
2001 429 36.1 11.9 82.8
2002 388 35.6 10.9 72.4
2003 388 35.6 10.9 72.4
2004 360 36.1 10.0 65
2005 340 35.5 9.6 69.4
2006 316 34.2 9.2 85.1
2007 330 34.2 9.6 87.6
2008 317 34.0 9.3 85.8
2009 325 30.3 10.7 86.5
2010 316 30.2 10.4 99.1
2011 337 30.2 11.1 99.1
2012 349 30.2 11.5 99.1
2013 367 30.2 12.1 99.2
2014 377 32.0 11.7 99.2
2015 392 27.0 14.5 99.2
2016 411 30.0 13.7 100
2017 410 33.0 12.4 100
2018 420 32.0 13.1 100
2019 394 32.0 12.3 71.1
2020 369 32.0 11.5 97.6
2021 341 33.0 10.3 n/a
2022 326 32.0 10.1 n/a
2023 333 32.0 10.4 n/a
2024 334 36.0 9.2 100

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 Poplar School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $14,787
2021 $18,230
2022 $22,469
2023 $23,261

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Poplar 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.

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students394333
 15.5%
African American00
American Indian385320
 16.9%
Asian00
Hispanic31
 66.7%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White36
 100%
Two or More Races26
 200%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Poplar School

Students who attend Poplar School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Poplar 5-6 School
Middle : Poplar 7-8
High : Poplar High School

Poplar School ranks in the bottom 5.7% of Montana elementary schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 334 students attended Poplar School.

Students at Poplar School are 96% American Indian, 2% White, 2% Two or more races.


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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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