Education in Montana: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Bad Graduation Rate – Montana reports an 83% graduation rate,1 but the national Diplomas Count report calculates a rate of 76%.2 Below is the percentage of students graduating in 2008 in Montana as compared to the United States.
Percentage of Students Graduating in 2008
76%
72%
United States
(Diplomas Count-reported)
Montana
(Diplomas Count-reported)
Data System – Montana’s state longitudinal data system contains seven of the ten core elements that the Data Quality Campaign deems essential. The state still must work to develop a teacher identifier system with the ability to match teachers to students, publicly report student-level course completion (transcript) data, and provide student-level SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement exam data. Montana must also work to maximize use of data capacity in driving effective decision making to improve system and student performance.3
92
83%
Montana
(State-reported)
Return on Investment – Student achievement in Montana is low relative to state spending on education according to the 2007 national Leaders and Laggards report. Montana received a D and ranked 32nd among all states for its return on investment, which was measured by its students’ performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)—an independent measuring stick also known as the Nation’s Report Card—relative to its per-pupil spending ($8,905, after controlling for student poverty, the percentage of students with special needs, and cost of living).4