Approximately 42% of public school students in Montana are eligible for free lunch (2026).
The public schools with the highest eligible for free lunch are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Montana is Arlee 7-8, Alberton High School, and Alberton Elementary School, among others each with 100% of students eligible.
Eligible for Free Lunch Range: 100%
100%
Avg. Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Public Schools Eligible For Free Lunch in Montana (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Eligible for Free Lunch
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Alberton Elementary School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
306 Railroad Ave
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-4413
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-4413
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Alberton High School
(Math: <50%)
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
306 Railroad Ave
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-3381
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-3381
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Alberton Middle School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-8
306 Railroad Ave
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-4413
Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 722-4413
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Arlee 7-8
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-8
72220 Fyant Street
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Arlee Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
72220 Fyant Street
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Arlee High School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
72220 Fyant Street
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Arlee, MT 59821
(406) 726-3216
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Arrow Creek Elementary School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
612 Away Kurwak St.
Pryor, MT 59066
(406) 259-8011
Pryor, MT 59066
(406) 259-8011
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Ashland 7-8
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-8
8 Old Mission Road
Ashland, MT 59003
(406) 784-2568
Ashland, MT 59003
(406) 784-2568
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Ashland School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
8 Old Mission Road
Ashland, MT 59003
(406) 784-2568
Ashland, MT 59003
(406) 784-2568
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Babb School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
4063 Hwy 89 N
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 732-5539
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 732-5539
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Barbara Gilligan 7-8
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-8
540 5th St.
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3311
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3311
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Barbara Gilligan School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
530 5th St.
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3318
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3318
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
200 Wisconsin
Belfry, MT 59008
(406) 664-3319
Belfry, MT 59008
(406) 664-3319
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Belfry School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
200 Wisconsin
Belfry, MT 59008
(406) 664-3319
Belfry, MT 59008
(406) 664-3319
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Box Elder 7-8
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-8
205 Main Street
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-4195
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-4195
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Box Elder High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
205 Main Street
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-4195
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-4195
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Box Elder School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
205 Main Street
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-3222
Box Elder, MT 59521
(406) 352-3222
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Brockton High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
540 5th St.
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3311
Brockton, MT 59213
(406) 786-3311
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Browning Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 2-3
112 First Ave South West
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 338-3490
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 338-3490
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Browning High School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
105 Highway 89
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 338-2745
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 338-2745
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Browning Middle School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 8%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-8
900 S. Piegan
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 338-2725
Browning, MT 59417
(406) 338-2725
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Crow Agency School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
Ammaachimuua Street
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 638-2252
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 638-2252
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Deerfield School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
Deerfield Colony
Lewistown, MT 59457
(406) 538-3852
Lewistown, MT 59457
(406) 538-3852
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Desmet 6-8
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-8
6355 Padre Lane
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Desmet School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
6355 Padre Lane
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-4994
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Dixon 7-8
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-8
411 B Street
Dixon, MT 59831
(406) 246-3566
Dixon, MT 59831
(406) 246-3566
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Dixon Elementary School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
411 B Street
Dixon, MT 59831
(406) 246-3566
Dixon, MT 59831
(406) 246-3566
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Dodson 7-8
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-8
124 First Ave W
Dodson, MT 59524
(406) 383-4362
Dodson, MT 59524
(406) 383-4362
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Dodson High School
(Reading: <50%)
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
124 First Ave W
Dodson, MT 59524
(406) 383-4362
Dodson, MT 59524
(406) 383-4362
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
East Evergreen School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-4
585 E. Evergreen
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1121
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
East Glacier Park School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
125 Washington St
East Glacier Park, MT 59434
(406) 226-5543
East Glacier Park, MT 59434
(406) 226-5543
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Evergreen Junior High School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 5-8
20 West Evergreen Drive
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1131
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 751-1131
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Fort Smith School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-5
502 Avenue C
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 666-2350
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 666-2350
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Fortine School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-6
358 Meadow Creek Rd.
Fortine, MT 59918
(406) 882-4531
Fortine, MT 59918
(406) 882-4531
Rank: #1 - 1171. - 117.
Frazer 7-8
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-8
325 6th Street
Frazer, MT 59225
(406) 695-2241
Frazer, MT 59225
(406) 695-2241
Show 100 more public schools in MT (out of 749 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Montana average of public schools students eligible for free lunch?
The Montana average of public schools students eligible for free lunch is 42%% for 2026.
What are the public schools with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Montana?
The best top-ranked public schools in Montana include Alberton Elementary School, Alberton High School and Alberton Middle School.
What is public high school and public elementary school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Montana?
The public high school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Montana is Alberton High School, with a value of 100%. The public elementary school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch is Alberton Elementary School, with a value of 100%.
Recent Articles
Year-Round Schooling in 2026: Updated Parent Guide
Explore the latest 2026 data, trends, costs, and parent planning tips in the ongoing debate over year-round schooling vs the traditional calendar.
No Child Left Behind: Past, Present, and Future of U.S. School Policy
Explore how No Child Left Behind evolved into ESSA, what it means for 2025‑26 schooling, and what parents need to know about testing, admissions planning, and funding.
Understanding Public School Fees & Optional Costs Guide
Discover what public school fees are required versus optional, with 2026 updates for parents, students, and educators on budgeting and planning.
