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Sunburst Elementary

Summary:

Sunburst Elementary is a public elementary school in Sunburst, MT, serving 68 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Sunburst K-12 Schools district, which is ranked 56 out of 300 districts in Montana and has a 4-star rating.

Sunburst Elementary has a relatively homogeneous student population, with over 90% of students identifying as White, which is higher than the state average of 86%. The school's academic performance has been inconsistent, with its statewide ranking ranging from 26th to 181st out of 332 Montana elementary schools in recent years. In the 2021-2022 school year, the school achieved a high ranking of 26th and a 5-star rating, but its performance declined in the following year, dropping to a 2-star rating and 181st rank. Compared to the Sunburst K-12 Schools district and the state, Sunburst Elementary's Mathematics proficiency rate was lower, but its Reading proficiency rate was higher.

Sunburst Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 7.9 to 8.1 students per teacher, which is lower than the nearby Zenith Elementary, Big Rose Colony School, and Horizon Elementary, which have ratios ranging from 8 to 14 students per teacher. However, the school's spending per student of $13,341 in the 2018-2019 school year is higher than the nearby schools, which range from $8,738 to $9,750 per student.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

 220 1st St South
       Sunburst, MT  59482

(406) 937-2816

District: Sunburst K-12 Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
181st of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $21,593 Help


Students who attend Sunburst Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Sunburst 7 - 8
High:    Sunburst High School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.2 Help
Number of students:  87

Racial breakdown:

White:
93.1%
Two or more races:
3.4%
Hispanic:
2.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  46% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Sunburst Elementary ranks worse than 54.5% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 51.69. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (93.1%), two or more races (3.4%), Hispanic (2.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 46% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sunburst Elementary is 10.2. (See more...)
Help
Compare Sunburst Elementary employs 8.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sunburst Elementary is $21,593.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Sunburst Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Sunburst K-12 Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Sunburst K-12 Schools 56th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Sunburst Elementary.

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Rank History for Sunburst Elementary

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 97.20 3rd 217 98.6%
2005 93.62 2nd 218 99.1%
2006 83.35 11th 234 95.3%
2007 88.47 4th 230 98.3%
2008 75.09 29th 194 85.1%
2009 70.78 44th 190 76.8%
2010 58.28 107th 241 55.6%
2011 66.42 79th 247 68.0%
2012 49.39 155th 244 36.5%
2013 68.54 62nd 246 74.8%
2016 66.21 62nd 191 67.5%
2021 76.10 96th 356 73.0%
2022 90.57 26th 329 92.1%
2023 51.69 181st 332 45.5%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Sunburst Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
0%

0%

100%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Open Quote Used to be a good school until the new principal came. He has some of the craziest ideas and is a terrible bully to the children! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Sunburst Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1995 151 0 0 0 7 n/a n/a 0 158
1996 151 0 0 0 7 n/a n/a 0 158
1997 141 0 1 2 2 n/a n/a 0 146
1998 126 0 1 3 7 n/a n/a 0 137
1999 120 0 2 4 3 n/a n/a 0 129
2000 117 0 3 3 3 n/a n/a 0 126
2001 103 0 2 4 2 n/a n/a 0 111
2002 109 0 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 113
2003 109 0 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 113
2004 94 0 2 2 0 n/a n/a 0 98
2005 93 0 3 2 1 n/a n/a 0 99
2006 84 1 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 87
2007 85 1 2 1 1 n/a n/a 0 90
2008 73 1 1 0 1 n/a n/a 0 76
2009 78 1 0 1 3 n/a n/a 0 83
2010 83 1 0 2 2 n/a n/a 0 88
2011 87 0 0 6 1 0 2 0 96
2012 100 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 104
2013 101 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 104
2014 80 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 83
2015 76 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 80
2016 75 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 83
2017 73 0 1 3 4 0 3 0 84
2018 74 0 1 1 5 0 3 0 84
2019 74 0 1 0 7 0 3 0 85
2020 61 0 1 1 3 0 2 0 68
2021 64 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 69
2022 66 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 70
2023 62 0 0 2 1 0 3 0 68
2024 81 0 1 2 0 0 3 0 87

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 Sunburst Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 158 7.6 20.8 29.7
1996 158 7.6 20.8 29.7
1997 146 7.6 19.2 24.7
1998 137 8.1 16.9 20.4
1999 129 8.1 15.9 29.5
2000 126 8.5 14.8 31
2001 111 8.6 12.9 26.1
2002 113 8.9 12.7 25.7
2003 113 8.9 12.7 25.7
2004 98 8.9 11.0 26.5
2005 99 9.0 11.0 23.2
2006 87 9.0 9.7 64.4
2007 90 9.0 10.0 54.4
2008 76 8.8 8.6 67.1
2009 83 8.8 9.4 44.6
2010 88 8.5 10.2 30.7
2011 96 9.2 10.4 35.4
2012 104 9.9 10.4 32.7
2013 104 8.9 11.6 36.5
2014 83 8.4 9.8 33.7
2015 80 8.0 10.0 23.8
2016 83 9.0 9.2 41
2017 84 8.8 9.5 31
2018 84 7.8 10.7 40.5
2019 85 8.0 10.5 30.6
2020 68 8.3 8.1 38.2
2021 69 8.6 7.9 n/a
2022 70 8.5 8.1 n/a
2023 68 8.3 8.1 n/a
2024 87 8.4 10.2 46

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 Sunburst Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 158 7.6 20.8 29.7
1996 158 7.6 20.8 29.7
1997 146 7.6 19.2 24.7
1998 137 8.1 16.9 20.4
1999 129 8.1 15.9 29.5
2000 126 8.5 14.8 31
2001 111 8.6 12.9 26.1
2002 113 8.9 12.7 25.7
2003 113 8.9 12.7 25.7
2004 98 8.9 11.0 26.5
2005 99 9.0 11.0 23.2
2006 87 9.0 9.7 64.4
2007 90 9.0 10.0 54.4
2008 76 8.8 8.6 67.1
2009 83 8.8 9.4 44.6
2010 88 8.5 10.2 30.7
2011 96 9.2 10.4 35.4
2012 104 9.9 10.4 32.7
2013 104 8.9 11.6 36.5
2014 83 8.4 9.8 33.7
2015 80 8.0 10.0 23.8
2016 83 9.0 9.2 41
2017 84 8.8 9.5 31
2018 84 7.8 10.7 40.5
2019 85 8.0 10.5 30.6
2020 68 8.3 8.1 38.2
2021 69 8.6 7.9 n/a
2022 70 8.5 8.1 n/a
2023 68 8.3 8.1 n/a
2024 87 8.4 10.2 46

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 Sunburst Elementary

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $13,341
2021 $19,207
2022 $19,685
2023 $21,592

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Sunburst Elementary

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 Students8568
 20%
African American00
American Indian71
 85.7%
Asian10
 100%
Hispanic02
Pacific Islander00
White7462
 16.2%
Two or More Races33

Schools Near Sunburst Elementary








Frequently Asked Questions about Sunburst Elementary

In the 2023-24 school year, 87 students attended Sunburst Elementary.

Students who attend Sunburst Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sunburst 7 - 8
High : Sunburst High School

Students at Sunburst Elementary are 93% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

Sunburst Elementary ranks 181st of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 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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