Phillips County Schools & Education
Phillips County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
90/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,262
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
90/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#5
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Phillips County
Measured School Summary
Phillips County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 90/100 and a graduation rate of 95.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Phillips County spends $11,262 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 63% above the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 11.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 21% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Phillips 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
13 public schools and 5 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
90/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #5 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
95.0%
11.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$11,262
$1,928 above the state average
School coverage
13
5 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
Phillips County has 13 public schools across 5 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 Phillips 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.
Higher-signal county
Phillips County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.
State position
#5
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 35 points above 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.
Malta K-12 Schools
Elementary to high school visible
519 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Dodson K-12
Elementary to high school visible
92 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Whitewater K-12 Schools
Elementary to high school visible
39 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Saco Elem
Elementary and middle visible
38 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Malta K-12 Schools 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 Phillips County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Phillips 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 Phillips 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 Comprehensive Rural School Network
Phillips County hosts 698 students within 13 public schools spread across 5 districts. The system is well-distributed with 5 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. This infrastructure ensures that residents across the county's vast plains have access to all levels of education.
The Malta K-12 Powerhouse
Malta K-12 Schools is the largest district, serving 519 students across four campuses. Dodson K-12 follows as the second-largest, supporting 92 students in three schools. The county does not host any charter schools, relying entirely on its strong traditional public districts.
Small Schools with Big Results
All 13 schools are located in rural locales, creating a consistent educational experience throughout the county. While the average school size is 54, Malta K-5 stands out as the largest campus with 255 students. Many smaller schools serve fewer than 40 students, providing highly personalized instruction.
School Overview
Total Schools
13
in Phillips County
Reported Enrollment
698
13 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Phillips County
Malta K-12 Schools
Dodson K-12
Whitewater K-12 Schools
Saco Elem
Saco H S
13 Public Schools in Phillips 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 13 of 13 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta K-5 | Record | Malta K-12 Schools | Malta, 59538Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 255 |
| Malta High School | Record | Malta K-12 Schools | Malta, 59538Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 143 |
| Malta 6-7-8 | Record | Malta K-12 Schools | Malta, 59538Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 117 |
| Dodson School | Record | Dodson K-12 | Dodson, 59524Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 45 |
| Dodson High School | Record | Dodson K-12 | Dodson, 59524Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 31 |
| Saco School | Record | Saco Elem | Saco, 59261Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 31 |
| Whitewater School | Record | Whitewater K-12 Schools | Whitewater, 59544Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 21 |
| Dodson 7-8 | Record | Dodson K-12 | Dodson, 59524Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 16 |
| Whitewater High School | Record | Whitewater K-12 Schools | Whitewater, 59544Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 13 |
| Saco High School | Record | Saco H S | Saco, 59261Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 10 |
| Saco 7-8 | Record | Saco Elem | Saco, 59261Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 7 |
| Whitewater 6-8 | Record | Whitewater K-12 Schools | Whitewater, 59544Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 5 |
| Loring Colony School | Record | Malta K-12 Schools | Malta, 59538Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 4 |
Whitewater School
Whitewater K-12 Schools
Whitewater, 59544 / Rural: Remote
Whitewater High School
Whitewater K-12 Schools
Whitewater, 59544 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$11,262
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Phillips 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 Phillips County?
What is the graduation rate in Phillips County?
How much does Phillips County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Phillips County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Phillips County, Montana?
Phillips County hosts 698 students within 13 public schools spread across 5 districts. The system is well-distributed with 5 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. This infrastructure ensures that residents across the county's vast plains have access to all levels of education.
What are the major school districts in Phillips County, Montana?
Malta K-12 Schools is the largest district, serving 519 students across four campuses. Dodson K-12 follows as the second-largest, supporting 92 students in three schools. The county does not host any charter schools, relying entirely on its strong traditional public districts.
What is the school experience like in Phillips County?
All 13 schools are located in rural locales, creating a consistent educational experience throughout the county. While the average school size is 54, Malta K-5 stands out as the largest campus with 255 students. Many smaller schools serve fewer than 40 students, providing highly personalized instruction.
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.