Montana Schools & Education

Public school metrics and education data for all 56 counties.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Avg Graduation Rate

83.7%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$9,334

Avg School Score

55/100

Total Schools

826

398 districts

State Overview

About Schools in Montana

This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.

Montana’s Graduation Rates Trail National Averages

Montana reports an average graduation rate of 83.7%, falling below the national benchmark of 87.0%. The state spends $9,334 per pupil, which is significantly lower than the $13,000 national average. Despite this funding gap, Montana's average school score of 53.7 remains above the national median of 50.0.

A Wide Gap in Geographic Performance

Across 52 reporting counties, school performance varies from a high score of 66.8 in Fallon County to a low of 28.5 in Prairie County. Graduation rates show similar volatility, peaking at 95.0% in several counties while dropping to 65.3% in Roosevelt County. This creates a landscape where a student's zip code heavily influences their statistical likelihood of success.

Stretching the Education Dollar

Montana achieves a 53.7 average school score while spending nearly $4,000 less per student than the national average. While Treasure County invests $14,412 per student, Gallatin County maintains operations on just $6,894. The state demonstrates a high return on investment by keeping scores above the national median despite these lower funding levels.

Montana’s High-Performing Education Leaders

Fallon, Phillips, and Toole counties represent the state's gold standard, all achieving 95.0% graduation rates. Fallon County leads the pack with a 66.8 school score, supported by a $11,932 per-pupil investment. These counties prove that maintaining spending around the $10,000 to $12,000 range can yield results far exceeding state and national averages.

State Score Context

How Montana Counties Are Distributed

56 of 56 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.

Scored county coverage

Counties with complete enough data for the composite score

100%

Higher measured signal

Score range 70-100

Midrange measured signal

Score range 40-69

Lower measured signal

Score range 0-39

Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.

Highest Measured School Signals

Treasure County

98/100

School score

Petroleum County

97/100

School score

Golden Valley County

97/100

School score

Fallon County

91/100

School score

Phillips County

90/100

School score

Lowest Measured School Signals

#1 lowest

Cascade County

30/100

School score

#2 lowest

Hill County

31/100

School score

#3 lowest

Big Horn County

31/100

School score

#4 lowest

Broadwater County

33/100

School score

#5 lowest

Silver Bow County

34/100

School score

All Montana Counties

County-level school score, graduation rate, and per-pupil spending for Montana.
County	School Score	Graduation Rate	Per-Pupil Spending
Treasure County Graduation — Per pupil $14,412	98/100	—	$14,412
Petroleum County Graduation — Per pupil $13,419	97/100	—	$13,419
Golden Valley County Graduation — Per pupil $13,208	97/100	—	$13,208
Fallon County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $11,932	91/100	95.0%	$11,932
Phillips County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $11,262	90/100	95.0%	$11,262
Toole County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $9,695	86/100	95.0%	$9,695
Prairie County Graduation — Per pupil $9,783	85/100	—	$9,783
Powell County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $9,421	85/100	95.0%	$9,421
Valley County Graduation 93.4% Per pupil $10,036	83/100	93.4%	$10,036
Sweet Grass County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $8,992	83/100	95.0%	$8,992
Beaverhead County Graduation 90.9% Per pupil $9,306	69/100	90.9%	$9,306
Teton County Graduation 90.2% Per pupil $9,072	66/100	90.2%	$9,072
Madison County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $8,895	64/100	90.0%	$8,895
Stillwater County Graduation 90.9% Per pupil $8,474	64/100	90.9%	$8,474
Carbon County Graduation 88.4% Per pupil $9,775	63/100	88.4%	$9,775
Ravalli County Graduation 93.8% Per pupil $7,201	62/100	93.8%	$7,201
Custer County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,567	60/100	92.0%	$7,567
Lake County Graduation 89.6% Per pupil $8,551	60/100	89.6%	$8,551
Sanders County Graduation 88.4% Per pupil $8,551	57/100	88.4%	$8,551
Sheridan County Graduation 83.5% Per pupil $11,738	56/100	83.5%	$11,738
Richland County Graduation 87.6% Per pupil $8,720	56/100	87.6%	$8,720
Chouteau County Graduation 85.8% Per pupil $9,443	55/100	85.8%	$9,443
Lincoln County Graduation 90.6% Per pupil $7,517	54/100	90.6%	$7,517
Jefferson County Graduation 89.2% Per pupil $7,909	54/100	89.2%	$7,909
Daniels County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $7,642	53/100	90.0%	$7,642
Park County Graduation 86.1% Per pupil $8,671	52/100	86.1%	$8,671
Blaine County Graduation 82.3% Per pupil $9,993	51/100	82.3%	$9,993
Judith Basin County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $12,869	50/100	75.0%	$12,869
Wibaux County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $12,699	50/100	75.0%	$12,699
Garfield County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $10,884	48/100	75.0%	$10,884
Powder River County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $10,631	47/100	75.0%	$10,631
Wheatland County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $10,568	47/100	75.0%	$10,568
Rosebud County Graduation 73.7% Per pupil $10,588	46/100	73.7%	$10,588
Liberty County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $10,125	46/100	75.0%	$10,125
Roosevelt County Graduation 65.3% Per pupil $10,743	46/100	65.3%	$10,743
Meagher County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $9,833	45/100	75.0%	$9,833
Granite County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $9,716	45/100	75.0%	$9,716
McCone County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $9,698	44/100	75.0%	$9,698
Pondera County Graduation 79.4% Per pupil $9,097	44/100	79.4%	$9,097
Carter County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $9,424	43/100	75.0%	$9,424
Deer Lodge County Graduation 82.0% Per pupil $8,538	43/100	82.0%	$8,538
Musselshell County Graduation 82.7% Per pupil $8,250	42/100	82.7%	$8,250
Mineral County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $9,089	42/100	75.0%	$9,089
Glacier County Graduation 77.2% Per pupil $8,582	40/100	77.2%	$8,582
Missoula County Graduation 85.3% Per pupil $7,575	40/100	85.3%	$7,575
Fergus County Graduation 80.8% Per pupil $8,155	39/100	80.8%	$8,155
Dawson County Graduation 77.0% Per pupil $8,409	39/100	77.0%	$8,409
Lewis and Clark County Graduation 85.8% Per pupil $7,428	38/100	85.8%	$7,428
Gallatin County Graduation 88.2% Per pupil $6,894	38/100	88.2%	$6,894
Flathead County Graduation 85.6% Per pupil $7,328	37/100	85.6%	$7,328
Yellowstone County Graduation 82.5% Per pupil $7,479	34/100	82.5%	$7,479
Silver Bow County Graduation 86.0% Per pupil $7,024	34/100	86.0%	$7,024
Broadwater County Graduation 84.0% Per pupil $7,236	33/100	84.0%	$7,236
Big Horn County Graduation 74.8% Per pupil $7,791	31/100	74.8%	$7,791
Hill County Graduation 74.6% Per pupil $7,774	31/100	74.6%	$7,774
Cascade County Graduation 83.4% Per pupil $7,113	30/100	83.4%	$7,113

— = data not available for this county.

Compare county school profiles in Montana

Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.

Compare Counties

Frequently Asked Questions About Montana Schools

Which Montana counties have the highest graduation rates?

Fallon County (95.0%), Phillips County (95.0%), and Powell County (95.0%) currently lead Montana among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Montana?

Across Montana counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,334. The highest current county values are Treasure County ($14,412), Petroleum County ($13,419), and Golden Valley County ($13,208). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

Which Montana county has the strongest measured school score?

Treasure County has the highest school score in Montana with a score of 98/100, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data.

What is the average graduation rate in Montana?

The average high school graduation rate across Montana counties is 83.7%, based on NCES data.

Which county in Montana has the lowest school score?

Cascade County has the lowest school score in Montana with a score of 30/100. School scores reflect available graduation-rate and per-pupil spending signals.

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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