Chester-Joplin-Inverness El School District

School And Main
Chester, MT 59522
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Chester-Joplin-Inverness El School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public middle schools serving 58 students in Chester-Joplin-Inverness El School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in Montana.
Public Middle Schools in Chester-Joplin-Inverness El School District have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the Montana public middle school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 64% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 3% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public middle school average of 23% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
4 Schools
329 Schools
# Students
182 Students
34,662 Students
# Teachers
17 Teachers
2,546 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Chester-Joplin-Inverness El School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 332 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
This School District
State Average (MT)
#42 out of 350 school districts
(Top 20%)

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

46%
37%

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

55-59%
46%

Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

20-29%
37%
(2022-23)
24.6%
35.9%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.09
0.40

Showing 2014–2023. Full 17-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
1%
11%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
n/a
6%

Showing 2011–2023. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
1%
n/a

Showing 2011–2023. Full 17-year historical data available below ↓

% White
96%
77%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 18-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
5%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,346 is higher than the state median of $16,573. The school district revenue/student has grown by 27% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,440 is higher than the state median of $16,214. The school district spending/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MT)
Total Revenue
$3 MM
$2,442 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 18-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$3 MM
$2,389 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 18-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$18,346
$16,573

Showing 2014–2023. Full 18-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$17,440
$16,214

Showing 2014–2023. Full 18-year historical data available below ↓

Best Chester-Joplin-Inverness El School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Chester-joplin-inverness 7-8
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
101 School Street
Chester, MT 59522
(406) 759-5108
Gr: 7-8 | 30 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Sage Creek Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
494 South 1346 East
Chester, MT 59522
(406) 759-5477
Gr: PK-8 | 5 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Rank: n/an/a
Hi-line Colony School
1262 Whitlash Rd
Chester, MT 59522
(406) 759-6302
Gr: PK-8 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1

Recent Articles

Does Your Public School Have Enough Nurses?
Does Your Public School Have Enough Nurses?
Learn whether your public school has enough nurses, how staffing affects student safety, chronic illness management, emergency care, and what parents should ask about available school health services today.
When Your Child Falls Behind Without Special Education
When Your Child Falls Behind Without Special Education
Learn what happens when your child falls behind academically but doesn't qualify for special education, including available school interventions, parent rights, tutoring options, and practical strategies for securing support.
When Your Child Finishes Classwork Faster Than Others
When Your Child Finishes Classwork Faster Than Others
Discover why some children finish classwork faster than classmates, how teachers manage early finishers, and what parents can do to ensure meaningful learning, appropriate challenges, and continued academic growth.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-08
  • Enrollment: 182 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 4%
  • : Top 20% in MT
  • : 46% (Top 20%)
  • : 55-59% (Top 20%)
  • : 20-29% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

Quick Links