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.[4]
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 of 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. [5]
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:
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.
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.
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.