McCone County Schools & Education
McCone County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
75.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
75.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,698
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#38
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McCone County
Measured School Summary
McCone County has midrange measured school signals (score: 44/100) with a graduation rate of 75.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
McCone County spends $9,698 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 19% below the Montana average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 8.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McCone 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
5 public schools and 3 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
44/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #38 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
75.0%
8.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,698
$364 above the state average
School coverage
5
3 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
McCone County has 5 public schools across 3 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 McCone 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.
Dominant-district county
Circle Elem carries most of the listed public-school system, with 3 of 5 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#38
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 11 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.
Circle Elem
Elementary and middle visible
127 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Circle H S
High school only in this slice
65 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Vida Elem
Elementary school only in this slice
46 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Circle Elem 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 McCone County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McCone 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 McCone 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.
Small-Scale Schooling in Eastern Montana
McCone County serves 238 students across five public schools and three districts. This small network is comprised of two elementary, two middle, and one high school.
Strong Local Investment in Every Student
The county spends $9,698 per pupil, which is higher than the Montana state average of $9,334. The graduation rate currently stands at 75.0%.
Circle Elementary Anchors the County
Circle Elementary is the largest district, enrolling 127 students in its three local schools. Circle High School is the county's only high school, serving 65 students.
A Completely Rural School Experience
All five schools are located in rural settings, with an average enrollment of only 48 students. Circle High School is the largest campus, while several primary schools serve fewer than 60 students each.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in McCone County
Reported Enrollment
238
5 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in McCone County
Circle Elem
Circle H S
Vida Elem
5 Public Schools in McCone 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 5 of 5 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circle High School | Record | Circle H S | Circle, 59215Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 65 |
| Bo Peep School | Record | Circle Elem | Circle, 59215Rural: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 58 |
| Vida School | Record | Vida Elem | Circle, 59215Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 46 |
| Redwater 7-8 | Record | Circle Elem | Circle, 59215Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 36 |
| Redwater School | Record | Circle Elem | Circle, 59215Rural: Remote | 4–6 | Middle | 33 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,698
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McCone 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 McCone County?
What is the graduation rate in McCone County?
How much does McCone County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McCone County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McCone County, Montana?
McCone County serves 238 students across five public schools and three districts. This small network is comprised of two elementary, two middle, and one high school.
How do schools in McCone County perform academically?
The county spends $9,698 per pupil, which is higher than the Montana state average of $9,334. The graduation rate currently stands at 75.0%.
What are the major school districts in McCone County, Montana?
Circle Elementary is the largest district, enrolling 127 students in its three local schools. Circle High School is the county's only high school, serving 65 students.
What is the school experience like in McCone County?
All five schools are located in rural settings, with an average enrollment of only 48 students. Circle High School is the largest campus, while several primary schools serve fewer than 60 students each.
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.