Jefferson County Schools & Education
Jefferson County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
54/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
89.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,909
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
54/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#24
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Jefferson County
Measured School Summary
Jefferson County performs at an average level with a school score of 54/100 and a solid graduation rate of 89.2%.
Funding Context
At $7,909 per pupil, Jefferson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 3% below the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 15% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Jefferson 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
12 public schools and 8 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
54/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #24 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
89.2%
5.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,909
$1,425 below the state average
School coverage
12
8 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
Jefferson County has 12 public schools across 8 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 Jefferson 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
Jefferson 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
#24
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 1 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.
Montana City Elem
Elementary and middle visible
475 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Clancy Elem
Elementary and middle visible
385 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Whitehall Elem
Elementary and middle visible
328 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Jefferson H S
High school only in this slice
284 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Boulder Elem is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Jefferson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.
Outpacing State and National Averages
Jefferson County boasts an impressive 89.2% graduation rate, exceeding both the Montana state average and the national benchmark of 87.0%. They achieve these results with a per-pupil expenditure of $7,909, showing high efficiency compared to national spending.
Montana City and Clancy Lead Enrollment
Montana City Elementary is the largest district with 475 students, followed closely by Clancy Elementary with 385. Traditional public schools make up the entire landscape here, with 0% charter school participation.
Modern Rural Learning Environments
All 12 schools are classified as rural, yet they maintain a healthy average size of 157 students. Clancy School is the largest in the county with 304 students, while Whitehall Elementary also serves a significant cohort of 202.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in Jefferson County
Reported Enrollment
1,885
12 schools reporting
School Districts
8
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
8 School Districts in Jefferson County
Montana City Elem
Clancy Elem
Whitehall Elem
Jefferson H S
Boulder Elem
Whitehall H S
Cardwell Elem
Basin Elem
12 Public Schools in Jefferson 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 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clancy School | Record | Clancy Elem | Clancy, 59634Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 304 |
| Montana City School | Record | Montana City Elem | Clancy, 59634Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 292 |
| Jefferson High School | Record | Jefferson H S | Boulder, 59632Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 284 |
| Whitehall Elementary | Record | Whitehall Elem | Whitehall, 59759Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 202 |
| Montana City Middle Schl | Record | Montana City Elem | Clancy, 59634Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 183 |
| Boulder Elementary School | Record | Boulder Elem | Boulder, 59632Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 172 |
| Whitehall High School | Record | Whitehall H S | Whitehall, 59759Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 144 |
| Whitehall 6-8 | Record | Whitehall Elem | Whitehall, 59759Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 126 |
| Clancy 7-8 | Record | Clancy Elem | Clancy, 59634Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 81 |
| Boulder 7-8 | Record | Boulder Elem | Boulder, 59632Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 46 |
| Cardwell School | Record | Cardwell Elem | Cardwell, 59721Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 40 |
| Basin School | Record | Basin Elem | Basin, 59631Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 11 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,909
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
What is the graduation rate in Jefferson County?
How much does Jefferson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Jefferson County, Montana — FAQ
How do schools in Jefferson County perform academically?
Jefferson County boasts an impressive 89.2% graduation rate, exceeding both the Montana state average and the national benchmark of 87.0%. They achieve these results with a per-pupil expenditure of $7,909, showing high efficiency compared to national spending.
What are the major school districts in Jefferson County, Montana?
Montana City Elementary is the largest district with 475 students, followed closely by Clancy Elementary with 385. Traditional public schools make up the entire landscape here, with 0% charter school participation.
What is the school experience like in Jefferson County?
All 12 schools are classified as rural, yet they maintain a healthy average size of 157 students. Clancy School is the largest in the county with 304 students, while Whitehall Elementary also serves a significant cohort of 202.
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.