Powell County Schools & Education
Powell County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
85/100
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
$9,421
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
85/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#8
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Powell County
Measured School Summary
Powell County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 85/100 and a graduation rate of 95.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Powell County spends $9,421 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 54% above the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 11.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Powell 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
8 public schools and 7 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
85/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #8 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
95.0%
11.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,421
$87 above the state average
School coverage
8
7 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
Powell County has 8 public schools across 7 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 Powell 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
Powell 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
#8
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 30 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.
Deer Lodge Elem
Elementary and middle visible
426 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Powell County H S
High school only in this slice
186 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Avon Elem
Elementary school only in this slice
28 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Elliston Elem
Elementary school only in this slice
19 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Deer Lodge 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 Powell County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Powell 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 Powell 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.
Deer Lodge Leads District Enrollment
Deer Lodge Elementary is the county’s largest district, educating 426 students across two campuses. Other smaller districts like Avon and Elliston serve their respective local communities with focused elementary programs. The county maintains a traditional public school system with no charter schools.
Town Centers and Rural Valleys
The county features 3 town-based schools and 5 rural campuses, with an average school size of 89. O D Speer School is the largest with 336 students, while Elliston School serves just 19 children. This mix provides families with the choice between a larger town school or a very small rural classroom.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Powell County
Reported Enrollment
708
8 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in Powell County
Deer Lodge Elem
Powell County H S
Avon Elem
Elliston Elem
Garrison Elem
Helmville Elem
Ovando Elem
8 Public Schools in Powell 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 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O D Speer School | Record | Deer Lodge Elem | Deer Lodge, 59722Town: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 336 |
| Powell County High School | Record | Powell County H S | Deer Lodge, 59722Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 186 |
| E F Duvall 7-8 | Record | Deer Lodge Elem | Deer Lodge, 59722Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 90 |
| Avon School | Record | Avon Elem | Avon, 59713Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 28 |
| Elliston School | Record | Elliston Elem | Elliston, 59728Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 19 |
| Garrison School | Record | Garrison Elem | Garrison, 59731Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 17 |
| Helmville School | Record | Helmville Elem | Helmville, 59843Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 16 |
| Ovando School | Record | Ovando Elem | Ovando, 59854Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 16 |
Powell County High School
Powell County H S
Deer Lodge, 59722 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,421
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Powell 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 Powell County?
What is the graduation rate in Powell County?
How much does Powell County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Powell County, Montana — FAQ
What are the major school districts in Powell County, Montana?
Deer Lodge Elementary is the county’s largest district, educating 426 students across two campuses. Other smaller districts like Avon and Elliston serve their respective local communities with focused elementary programs. The county maintains a traditional public school system with no charter schools.
What is the school experience like in Powell County?
The county features 3 town-based schools and 5 rural campuses, with an average school size of 89. O D Speer School is the largest with 336 students, while Elliston School serves just 19 children. This mix provides families with the choice between a larger town school or a very small rural classroom.
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.