Gallatin County Schools & Education
Gallatin County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
88.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,894
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#49
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Gallatin County
Measured School Summary
Gallatin County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 88.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,894 per pupil, Gallatin County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 31% below the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 26% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Gallatin 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
47 public schools and 21 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
38/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #49 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
88.2%
4.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,894
$2,440 below the state average
School coverage
47
21 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
Gallatin County has 47 public schools across 21 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 Gallatin 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
Gallatin 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
#49
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 17 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.
Bozeman Elem
Elementary and middle visible
4,651 students
11 listed schools in this county slice.
Bozeman H S
High school only in this slice
2,631 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Belgrade Elem
Elementary and middle visible
2,374 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Belgrade H S
High school only in this slice
994 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Bozeman Elem is the largest listed district slice, with 11 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 Gallatin County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Gallatin County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Gallatin 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.
Fast-Growing Districts in Gallatin Valley
Gallatin County supports 47 public schools and 21 districts to serve a student population of 14,236. The network is composed of 27 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and eight high schools. There are no charter schools currently in operation, as the public system continues to expand to meet rapid population growth.
Bozeman and Belgrade Lead the Region
Bozeman Elementary is the largest district, overseeing 11 schools and 4,651 students. Belgrade Elementary also plays a major role, serving 2,374 students across four schools. Gallatin High School and Bozeman High School are the largest individual institutions, each enrolling over 1,200 students.
A Dynamic Mix of Rural and Town Life
The county balances 34 rural schools with 13 town-based facilities, offering diverse environments for families. While the average school size is 303 students, the largest high schools exceed 1,300 students, creating a collegiate atmosphere. This variety allows families to choose between quiet rural settings and large, resource-rich town schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
47
in Gallatin County
Reported Enrollment
14,236
47 schools reporting
School Districts
21
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
21 School Districts in Gallatin County
Bozeman Elem
GuideBozeman H S
Belgrade Elem
Belgrade H S
Monforton Elem
Three Forks Elem
Manhattan School
Big Sky School K-12
West Yellowstone K-12
Three Forks H S
47 Public Schools in Gallatin County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 4 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 47 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin High School | Profile | Bozeman H S | Bozeman, 59771Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,351 |
| Bozeman High School | Profile | Bozeman H S | Bozeman, 59771Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,280 |
| Belgrade Middle School | Profile | Belgrade Elem | Belgrade, 59714Town: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 1,052 |
| Belgrade High School | Profile | Belgrade H S | Belgrade, 59714Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 994 |
| Sacajawea Middle School | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 826 |
| Chief Joseph Middle School | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 752 |
| Emily Dickinson School | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 519 |
| Hyalite Elementary | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 512 |
| Meadowlark Elementary | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 495 |
| Ridge View Elementary | Record | Belgrade Elem | Belgrade, 59714Town: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 461 |
| Saddle Peak Elementary | Record | Belgrade Elem | Belgrade, 59714Town: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 458 |
| Morning Star School | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 424 |
| Story Creek Elem | Record | Belgrade Elem | Belgrade, 59714Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 403 |
| Hawthorne School | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 348 |
| Three Forks Elem School | Record | Three Forks Elem | Three Forks, 59752Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 337 |
| Longfellow School | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 298 |
| Three Forks High School | Record | Three Forks H S | Three Forks, 59752Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 278 |
| Whittier School | Record | Bozeman Elem | Bozeman, 59771Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 249 |
| Manhattan 5-8 | Record | Manhattan School | Manhattan, 59741Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 245 |
| Manhattan H S | Record | Manhattan High School | Manhattan, 59741Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 239 |
Gallatin High School
Bozeman H S
Bozeman, 59771 / Rural: Fringe
Bozeman High School
Bozeman H S
Bozeman, 59771 / Town: Remote
Belgrade Middle School
Belgrade Elem
Belgrade, 59714 / Town: Remote
Belgrade High School
Belgrade H S
Belgrade, 59714 / Town: Remote
Three Forks Elem School
Three Forks Elem
Three Forks, 59752 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,894
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Gallatin 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 Gallatin County?
What is the graduation rate in Gallatin County?
How much does Gallatin County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Gallatin County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Gallatin County, Montana?
Gallatin County supports 47 public schools and 21 districts to serve a student population of 14,236. The network is composed of 27 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and eight high schools. There are no charter schools currently in operation, as the public system continues to expand to meet rapid population growth.
What are the major school districts in Gallatin County, Montana?
Bozeman Elementary is the largest district, overseeing 11 schools and 4,651 students. Belgrade Elementary also plays a major role, serving 2,374 students across four schools. Gallatin High School and Bozeman High School are the largest individual institutions, each enrolling over 1,200 students.
What is the school experience like in Gallatin County?
The county balances 34 rural schools with 13 town-based facilities, offering diverse environments for families. While the average school size is 303 students, the largest high schools exceed 1,300 students, creating a collegiate atmosphere. This variety allows families to choose between quiet rural settings and large, resource-rich town schools.
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.