Big Sky Times

Bench School had a total attendance of 362 students during the 2018-19 school year, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Attendance at the school saw a 6 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 (2018-19)	Previous Year Enrollment (2017-18)
1	Belgrade High School	965	900
2	East Middle School	801	772
3	North Middle School	791	751
4	Chief Joseph Middle School	745	783
5	Laurel Middle School	693	692
6	Helena Middle School	687	695
7	Libby Elementary School	664	659
8	Laurel High School	642	635
8	East Middle School	642	618
10	Hardin High School	546	508
11	Emily Dickinson School	528	479
12	Hellgate Middle School	523	499
13	Edgerton School	518	615
14	Havre High School	508	539
15	Hamilton Middle School	499	359
16	Hamilton High School	495	486
17	Morning Star School	493	500
18	Four Georgians School	485	481
19	Paxson School	482	457
20	Frenchtown Elementary School	478	492
…
26	Emerson School	444	401
27	Hardin Middle School	441	459
28	Napi School	440	424
29	Park High School	439	447
30	Bigfork Elementary	437	441
31	Heck/Quaw Elementary	426	456
32	Lincoln School	420	418
33	Chief Charlo School	416	453
34	East Valley Middle School	415	405
35	Hawthorne School	414	378
36	Havre Middle School	411	409
36	Big Sky Elementary	411	407
38	Hillcrest School	410	395
39	Huntley Project Elem K-6	405	405
40	Mountain View School	402	341
41	East Evergreen School	400	417
42	Eagle Cliffs Elementary	393	374
43	Frenchtown High School	382	412
44	Lillian Peterson School	375	457
45	Lakeside Elementary School	373	362
46	Bench School	362	385
47	Elder Grove School	357	403
48	Beartooth School	356	385
49	Dawson High School	351	361
50	Hawthorne School	349	355
50	Harlem Elementary School	349	343
52	Cecelia Hazelton School	341	362
53	Fergus High School	337	348
54	Alkali Creek School	336	334
55	East Side School	329	349
56	Cornelius Hedges School	325	344
57	Libby High School	322	359
58	Orchard School	321	367
58	Crow Agency School	321	299
60	Daly School	318	415
61	Bigfork High School	317	311
62	Lame Deer School	315	318
63	Hardin Intermediate	314	359
64	Independent School	310	298
65	Franklin School	304	281
66	Hardin Primary	302	279
…
328	King Colony School	9	9
328	Carter School	9	8
328	Hammond School	9	7
333	Fortine 7-8	8	10
333	Divide School	8	8
335	Benton Lake School	7	9
335	Grass Range 7-8	7	8
335	Galata School	7	7
335	Geraldine 7-8	7	6
339	Judith Gap High School	6	13
339	Jackson School	6	4
341	Big Sky High School	1	1
341	Flathead High School	1	1
341	Hellgate High School	1	1
341	Kalispell Middle School	1	1
341	Helena High School	1	1
341	Glacier High School	1	1
341	Capital High School	1	1
341	Belgrade Middle School	1	1
341	Butte High School	1	1