Fort Benton High School is a high school in Fort Benton, Montana.
The district serves students living in Fort Benton, Loma, and Carter, with total population nearing 2,000 people. The sports teams are called the Fort Benton Longhorns.
History
Fort Benton's first school opened in 1868, over twenty years before statehood. Upon statehood in 1889, the Enabling Act attempted to set aside sections 16 and 36 in each township to financially support education. If section 16 or 36 were already claimed, another selection was made in lieu. The tract on which the Eagle Butte School is located is such a tract. Chouteau County established the Eagle Butte School District in 1912. That year, approximately 27 children attended school for one to two months in abandoned homestead shacks. School construction began in 1914. A storm demolished the partially completed building, but this clapboard-sided school was ultimately ready for students in August 1915. After 1918, drought and agricultural depression led to declining enrollments. The school remained open by merging with South Eagle Butte School in 1924. By 1964, Geraldine Elementary annexed the Eagle Butte district.
Athletics
The Fort Benton Longhorns have had to move with the economy with what District, Division, and Classification they are placed in. Being one of the original founding schools in the MHSA, Classifications: Class AA 1891-1931 Class A 1932-1977 Class B 1978-1982 Class A 1983-1988 Class B 1989-2008 Class C 2009-Spring 2025 Class B Beginning Fall 2025 Central A Northern A Northeast B Northern B Southern B South/Central B Northern C District 1B District 6B District 7C/8C District 9C
Football The Longhorn Football team holds the longest running state playoff record out of all Class A' B' and C' Schools 20 state playoff shows from the Longhorns. State Championships: 2002, State Runner-Up: 2003, 2004
Volleyball Fort Benton Volleyball
State Champions: State Place: Division Champions: 2019, 2010, 1993, 1992 Division Place: 4th-2009, 4th-2008, 3rd-2007 District Champions: 1993, 1992, 1991 District Place: 2nd-2019 3rd-2010 2nd-2009, 4th-2008, 3rd-2007, 2nd-2006
Boys' Basketball State Champions: 1953, 1952, 1951 State Place: 3rd/4th-2020 3rd-1973, 2nd-1972, 2nd-1956, 2nd-1955, 2nd-1954, 2nd-1950 Division Champions: 2020, 1973, 1972, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1953, 1952, 1951, 1950 Division Place: 4th-2006 District Champions: 2020, 2010, 2006, District Place: 2nd-2019 3rd-2018, 3rd-2009, 4th-2008, 2nd-2007, 2nd-1996, 2nd-1992, 2nd-1991,
Girls' Basketball First Girls Basketball State Championship 2020-2021 State C Champions
State Place: 3rd-2003, 2nd-2000 Division Champions: 2002, 2000 Division Place: 3rd-2020 3rd-2017, 2nd-2003, 2nd-1999, 3rd-1998 District Champions: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2014, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 District Place: 2nd-2017, 4th-2010, 4th-2009, 3rd-2007, 2nd-1998
Boys' and Girls' Wrestling Boys' State Championships: 2013 Boys' State Place: Boys' Division Championships: Boys' Division Place: Girls' State Championships: 2026 Girls' State Place: 3rd-2025 Girls' Division Championships: 2026, 2025 Girls' Division Place:
Boys' and Girls' Track Boys' State Championships: 2003, 2001, 1987, 1986, 1985 Boys' Divisional Championships: 2019 Boys' District Championships: 2019 Girls' State Championships: 2017, 1997, 1983, 1982 Girls' State Place: 3rd-2019 2nd-2018 Girls' Divisional Championships: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 Girls' District Championships: 2019, 2018, 2017
Golf Boys' State Championships: 2011, 2010, 2000 Girls' State Championships: 2011, 2010, 1997, 1996, 1994, 1993, 1992
Tennis State Champions: State Runner-up: 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Gymnastics Program Retired State Championships: 1973 State Runner-ups: 1972 1974 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980
Activities
Cheerleading B Club - creates banners supporting the classes and sports teams that are displayed in the gymnasium. They are also responsible for creating locker signs for participants in athletics and activities. National Honor Society Band - Pep band plays at almost all FBHS athletic events Choir Speech and Drama - Divisional Championships: 2014, 2013, State Championships: 2010, 1953 Newspaper/Annual -This group is responsible for the production and quality of the Annual yearbook.
Chouteau County High School Fort Benton High School was originally named back in 1891 when the first building was built Chouteau County High School which served all towns in Chouteau County which the high school first had about 200 students and then after the first building burnt to the ground in 1920 and the new building currently housing the high school was built the school split into 4 high schools Highwood, Geraldine, Big Sandy, and Fort Benton.
Currently Fort Benton has two buildings. Big Sandy two, Highwood one, and Geraldine has one.
References