Carbon County Schools & Education
Carbon County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,775
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#15
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Carbon County
Measured School Summary
Carbon County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.4%.
Funding Context
Carbon County spends $9,775 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% above the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Carbon County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
19 public schools and 9 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
63/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #15 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
88.4%
4.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,775
$441 above the state average
School coverage
19
9 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Carbon County has 19 public schools across 9 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Carbon County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Mixed school landscape
Carbon County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#15
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Red Lodge Elem
Elementary and middle visible
328 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Joliet Elem
Elementary and middle visible
270 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Bridger K-12 Schools
Elementary to high school visible
199 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Red Lodge H S
High school only in this slice
176 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Belfry K-12 Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 3 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Carbon County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Carbon County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Carbon County, Montana
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Extensive Rural School Infrastructure
Carbon County manages 19 public schools across nine districts, supporting 1,414 students. The system is evenly distributed with seven elementary, six middle, and six high schools serving its various communities.
Bridger and Red Lodge Communities
Bridger K-12 Schools is one of the larger districts with 199 students across three schools. The county relies entirely on traditional public schools, with no charter options currently available.
Intimate Classrooms in the Mountains
Every school in the county operates in a rural locale, resulting in a small average school size of 74 students. Mountain View School is the most populated campus with 205 students, ensuring every child receives significant individual attention.
School Overview
Total Schools
19
in Carbon County
Reported Enrollment
1,414
19 schools reporting
School Districts
9
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
9 School Districts in Carbon County
Red Lodge Elem
Joliet Elem
Bridger K-12 Schools
Red Lodge H S
Joliet H S
Roberts K-12 Schools
Fromberg K-12
Belfry K-12 Schools
Luther Elem
19 Public Schools in Carbon County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 19 of 19 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View School | Record | Red Lodge Elem | Red Lodge, 59068Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 205 |
| Red Lodge High School | Record | Red Lodge H S | Red Lodge, 59068Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 176 |
| Joliet School | Record | Joliet Elem | Joliet, 59041Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 175 |
| Joliet High School | Record | Joliet H S | Joliet, 59041Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 139 |
| Roosevelt Junior High | Record | Red Lodge Elem | Red Lodge, 59068Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 123 |
| Bridger Elementary School | Record | Bridger K-12 Schools | Bridger, 59014Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 118 |
| Joliet Middle School | Record | Joliet Elem | Joliet, 59041Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 95 |
| Roberts School | Record | Roberts K-12 Schools | Roberts, 59070Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 61 |
| Bridger High School | Record | Bridger K-12 Schools | Bridger, 59014Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 56 |
| Fromberg School | Record | Fromberg K-12 | Fromberg, 59029Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 53 |
| Roberts High School | Record | Roberts K-12 Schools | Roberts, 59070Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 43 |
| Belfry School | Record | Belfry K-12 Schools | Belfry, 59008Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 36 |
| Fromberg High School | Record | Fromberg K-12 | Fromberg, 59029Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 33 |
| Bridger 7-8 | Record | Bridger K-12 Schools | Bridger, 59014Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 25 |
| Fromberg Middle School | Record | Fromberg K-12 | Fromberg, 59029Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 20 |
| Roberts 7-8 | Record | Roberts K-12 Schools | Roberts, 59070Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 18 |
| Belfry High School | Record | Belfry K-12 Schools | Belfry, 59008Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 17 |
| Luther School | Record | Luther Elem | Luther, 59068Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 11 |
| Belfry 7-8 | Record | Belfry K-12 Schools | Belfry, 59008Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 10 |
Bridger Elementary School
Bridger K-12 Schools
Bridger, 59014 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,775
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Carbon County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Montana counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Montana?
How should I read the school score in Carbon County?
What is the graduation rate in Carbon County?
How much does Carbon County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Carbon County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Carbon County, Montana?
Carbon County manages 19 public schools across nine districts, supporting 1,414 students. The system is evenly distributed with seven elementary, six middle, and six high schools serving its various communities.
What are the major school districts in Carbon County, Montana?
Bridger K-12 Schools is one of the larger districts with 199 students across three schools. The county relies entirely on traditional public schools, with no charter options currently available.
What is the school experience like in Carbon County?
Every school in the county operates in a rural locale, resulting in a small average school size of 74 students. Mountain View School is the most populated campus with 205 students, ensuring every child receives significant individual attention.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.