Superintendent Arntzen Celebrates Montana’s National Distinguished School Awardees

• Brian O'Leary
• March 15 2024

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen is proud to announce that two Montana schools received the 2022-2023 National Distinguished School Award:

• Anderson 7-8 School in Bozeman – Category 1
• Garfield Elementary School in Miles City – Category 2

“We are all Montana proud of the great work Anderson and Garfield Schools are accomplishing in putting their students first,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Join me in celebrating the parents, students, teachers, and staff of these two schools.”

The National Distinguished Schools program honors schools for success in one of three categories:

• Category 1: Schools exhibiting exceptional student performance and academic growth
• Category 2: Schools that have closed the achievement gap between student groups
• Category 3: Schools that show excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.)

A total of 688 schools around the country have received the award since 1996. In Montana, 22 schools received the award between 2016 and 2023. To qualify for these awards, a school must have a Title I program and it must have a poverty rate of at least 35 percent. The schools were recognized during a national Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Conference in Portland, Oregon last month.