Golden Valley County Schools & Education
Golden Valley County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
97/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
—
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
N/A
National avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,208
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
97/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#3
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Golden Valley County
Measured School Summary
Golden Valley County has a strong school score of 97/100. Graduation rate data is not available.
Funding Context
With $13,208 per pupil, Golden Valley County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 75% above the Montana average, while per-pupil spending is 42% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Golden Valley 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
6 public schools and 2 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
97/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #3 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
Not reported
Graduation-rate comparison is unavailable for this county.
Funding context
$13,208
$3,874 above the state average
School coverage
6
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Golden Valley County has 6 public schools across 2 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 Golden Valley 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.
Small-system county
Golden Valley County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#3
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 42 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
2 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.
Lavina K-12 Schools
Elementary to high school visible
81 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Ryegate K-12 Schools
Elementary to high school visible
44 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Lavina 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 Golden Valley County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley 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.
Highly Concentrated Rural Schooling
Golden Valley County serves just 125 students across six public schools within two primary school districts. The infrastructure is evenly split between two elementary, two middle, and two high schools.
High Spending in a Small System
While graduation data is currently unavailable, the county invests heavily with a per-pupil expenditure of $13,208. This spending exceeds both the state average and the national benchmark of $13,000 per student.
Lavina K-12 Schools Take the Lead
Lavina K-12 Schools is the largest district, educating 81 students across its three campus levels. No charter schools exist in the county, ensuring all 125 students receive an education through the two local K-12 districts.
One of Montana’s Smallest Rural Systems
With an average school size of just 21 students, Golden Valley offers an incredibly personalized rural learning experience. Lavina Elementary is the largest campus with 38 students, while Ryegate High School operates with a very small cohort of 10 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
6
in Golden Valley County
Reported Enrollment
125
6 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Golden Valley County
Lavina K-12 Schools
Ryegate K-12 Schools
6 Public Schools in Golden Valley 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 6 of 6 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavina Elementary | Record | Lavina K-12 Schools | Lavina, 59046Rural: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 38 |
| Ryegate School | Record | Ryegate K-12 Schools | Ryegate, 59074Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 30 |
| Lavina Middle School | Record | Lavina K-12 Schools | Lavina, 59046Rural: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 25 |
| Lavina High School | Record | Lavina K-12 Schools | Lavina, 59046Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 18 |
| Ryegate High School | Record | Ryegate K-12 Schools | Ryegate, 59074Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 10 |
| Ryegate 7-8 | Record | Ryegate K-12 Schools | Ryegate, 59074Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 4 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$13,208
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County?
How much does Golden Valley County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Golden Valley County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Golden Valley County, Montana?
Golden Valley County serves just 125 students across six public schools within two primary school districts. The infrastructure is evenly split between two elementary, two middle, and two high schools.
How do schools in Golden Valley County perform academically?
While graduation data is currently unavailable, the county invests heavily with a per-pupil expenditure of $13,208. This spending exceeds both the state average and the national benchmark of $13,000 per student.
What are the major school districts in Golden Valley County, Montana?
Lavina K-12 Schools is the largest district, educating 81 students across its three campus levels. No charter schools exist in the county, ensuring all 125 students receive an education through the two local K-12 districts.
What is the school experience like in Golden Valley County?
With an average school size of just 21 students, Golden Valley offers an incredibly personalized rural learning experience. Lavina Elementary is the largest campus with 38 students, while Ryegate High School operates with a very small cohort of 10 students.
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.