schoolsbycounty

Fergus County Schools & Education

School Score

39/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

80.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

80.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 83.7%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,155

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,334

School Score

39/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#46

of 56 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Fergus County

Measured School Summary

Fergus County faces educational challenges with a school score of 39/100 and a graduation rate of 80.8%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

Fergus County spends $8,155 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 29% below the Montana average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Fergus 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

24 public schools and 14 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

39/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #46 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.

Completion

80.8%

2.9 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,155

$1,179 below the state average

School coverage

24

14 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Fergus County has 24 public schools across 14 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.

Parent decision brief

What Fergus 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.

Review-carefully county

Fergus County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#46

of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 16 points below 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.

Lewistown Elem

Elementary and middle visible

888 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 0Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Fergus H S

High school only in this slice

356 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

Winifred K-12 Schools

Elementary to high school visible

154 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Grass Range Elem

Elementary and middle visible

58 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 0Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Lewistown Elem is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Fergus County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Fergus 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 Fergus 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.

A Vast Network of Local Schools

Fergus County manages an extensive network of 24 public schools distributed among 14 different districts. The county serves 1,634 students with 11 elementary, seven middle, and six high schools. This decentralized structure reflects a commitment to keeping schools close to the many rural communities across the region.

Lewistown Elem Leads Fergus Enrollment

Lewistown Elementary is the county's largest district, serving 888 students across four primary schools. Other significant districts include Winifred K-12 with 154 students and Roy K-12 which serves a smaller student body. Fergus High School stands as the largest single institution with 356 students enrolled.

Rural Roots and Small Class Sizes

The county features 20 rural schools and four town-based facilities, emphasizing a deep connection to the Montana landscape. The average school size is just 68 students, ensuring that classrooms remain small and instructors know every student by name. From the 356 students at Fergus High to the tiniest rural outposts, the county offers a variety of intimate learning settings.

School Overview

Total Schools

24

in Fergus County

Reported Enrollment

1,634

24 schools reporting

School Districts

14

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary11
Middle7
High6
Other0

14 School Districts in Fergus County

Lewistown Elem

4 schools
888 students

Fergus H S

1 school
356 students

Winifred K-12 Schools

3 schools
154 students

Grass Range Elem

2 schools
58 students

Moore Elem

2 schools
48 students

Denton Elem

2 schools
35 students

Grass Range H S

1 school
18 students

Roy K-12 Schools

3 schools
18 students

Moore H S

1 school
16 students

Deerfield Elem

1 school
13 students

24 Public Schools in Fergus 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 data

Level

Showing 20 of 24 matching schools

Fergus High School

Fergus H S

Lewistown, 59457 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High356 students

Highland Park School

Lewistown Elem

Lewistown, 59457 / Town: Remote

Record2–5Primary304 students

Lewis & Clark School

Lewistown Elem

Lewistown, 59457 / Town: Remote

Record5–6Middle210 students

Lewistown 7-8

Lewistown Elem

Lewistown, 59457 / Town: Remote

Record7–8Middle197 students

Garfield School

Lewistown Elem

Lewistown, 59457 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–2Primary177 students

Winifred School

Winifred K-12 Schools

Winifred, 59489 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary83 students

Grass Range School

Grass Range Elem

Grass Range, 59032 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary46 students

Winifred High School

Winifred K-12 Schools

Winifred, 59489 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High44 students

Moore School

Moore Elem

Moore, 59464 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary34 students

Denton School

Denton Elem

Denton, 59430 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary28 students

Winifred 6-8

Winifred K-12 Schools

Winifred, 59489 / Rural: Remote

Record6–8Middle27 students

Grass Range High School

Grass Range H S

Grass Range, 59032 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High18 students

Moore High School

Moore H S

Moore, 59464 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High16 students

Moore 6-8

Moore Elem

Moore, 59464 / Rural: Remote

Record6–8Middle14 students

Deerfield School

Deerfield Elem

Lewistown, 59457 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary13 students

Grass Range 7-8

Grass Range Elem

Grass Range, 59032 / Rural: Remote

Record7–8Middle12 students

Ayers School

Ayers Elem

Grass Range, 59032 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary11 students

Denton High School

Denton H S

Denton, 59430 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High10 students

Denton 7-8

Denton Elem

Denton, 59430 / Rural: Remote

Record7–8Middle7 students

King Colony School

King Colony Elem

Lewistown, 59457 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary7 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,155

State avg $9,334

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Fergus County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
How should I read the school score in Fergus County?
Fergus County has a school score of 39/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Fergus County?
The high school graduation rate in Fergus County is 80.8%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Fergus County spend per student?
Fergus County spends $8,155 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Fergus County, Montana — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Fergus County, Montana?

Fergus County manages an extensive network of 24 public schools distributed among 14 different districts. The county serves 1,634 students with 11 elementary, seven middle, and six high schools. This decentralized structure reflects a commitment to keeping schools close to the many rural communities across the region.

What are the major school districts in Fergus County, Montana?

Lewistown Elementary is the county's largest district, serving 888 students across four primary schools. Other significant districts include Winifred K-12 with 154 students and Roy K-12 which serves a smaller student body. Fergus High School stands as the largest single institution with 356 students enrolled.

What is the school experience like in Fergus County?

The county features 20 rural schools and four town-based facilities, emphasizing a deep connection to the Montana landscape. The average school size is just 68 students, ensuring that classrooms remain small and instructors know every student by name. From the 356 students at Fergus High to the tiniest rural outposts, the county offers a variety of intimate learning settings.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.