Richland County Schools & Education
Richland County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,720
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
56/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#21
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Richland County
Measured School Summary
Richland County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.6%.
Funding Context
Richland County spends $8,720 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 2% above the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Richland 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
15 public schools and 10 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
56/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #21 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
87.6%
3.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,720
$614 below the state average
School coverage
15
10 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
Richland County has 15 public schools across 10 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 Richland 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
Richland 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
#21
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 1 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.
Sidney Elem
Elementary and middle visible
856 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Sidney H S
High school only in this slice
387 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Fairview Elem
Elementary and middle visible
182 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Fairview H S
High school only in this slice
116 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Sidney 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 Richland County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Richland 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 Richland 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 Districts Serving Eastern Montana
Richland County manages 1,865 students across 15 public schools, including seven elementary and four high schools. A high number of districts for the population size, totaling 10, ensures that local communities maintain direct control over their schools. This structure supports a wide geographic area with localized educational hubs.
Sidney Schools Anchor the County
Sidney Elementary is the largest district by far, educating 856 students across three specialized campuses. Fairview Elementary follows as the second-largest, serving 182 students. All 15 schools in the county are traditional public institutions, as no charter schools currently operate in the region.
Small-Town Feel in a Rural Setting
The average school size in Richland County is just 124 students, fostering a tight-knit environment where everyone knows your name. While 11 schools are strictly rural, four are located in town centers like Sidney. Sidney High School is the largest facility with 387 students, providing a contrast to smaller rural primary schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
15
in Richland County
Reported Enrollment
1,865
15 schools reporting
School Districts
10
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
10 School Districts in Richland County
Sidney Elem
Sidney H S
Fairview Elem
Fairview H S
Savage Elem
Lambert Elem
Rau Elem
Lambert H S
Savage H S
Brorson Elem
15 Public Schools in Richland 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 15 of 15 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney High School | Record | Sidney H S | Sidney, 59270Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 387 |
| West Side Elementary | Record | Sidney Elem | Sidney, 59270Town: Remote | PK–2 | Primary | 321 |
| Sidney Middle School | Record | Sidney Elem | Sidney, 59270Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 284 |
| Central Elementary | Record | Sidney Elem | Sidney, 59270Town: Remote | 3–5 | Primary | 251 |
| Fairview School | Record | Fairview Elem | Fairview, 59221Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 146 |
| Fairview High School | Record | Fairview H S | Fairview, 59221Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 116 |
| Savage School | Record | Savage Elem | Savage, 59262Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 76 |
| Rau School | Record | Rau Elem | Sidney, 59270Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 69 |
| Lambert School | Record | Lambert Elem | Lambert, 59243Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 66 |
| Lambert High School | Record | Lambert H S | Lambert, 59243Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 43 |
| Fairview 7-8 | Record | Fairview Elem | Fairview, 59221Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 36 |
| Savage High School | Record | Savage H S | Savage, 59262Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 29 |
| Savage 7-8 | Record | Savage Elem | Savage, 59262Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 24 |
| Lambert 7-8 | Record | Lambert Elem | Lambert, 59243Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 13 |
| Brorson School | Record | Brorson Elem | Sidney, 59270Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 4 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,720
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Richland 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 Richland County?
What is the graduation rate in Richland County?
How much does Richland County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Richland County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Richland County, Montana?
Richland County manages 1,865 students across 15 public schools, including seven elementary and four high schools. A high number of districts for the population size, totaling 10, ensures that local communities maintain direct control over their schools. This structure supports a wide geographic area with localized educational hubs.
What are the major school districts in Richland County, Montana?
Sidney Elementary is the largest district by far, educating 856 students across three specialized campuses. Fairview Elementary follows as the second-largest, serving 182 students. All 15 schools in the county are traditional public institutions, as no charter schools currently operate in the region.
What is the school experience like in Richland County?
The average school size in Richland County is just 124 students, fostering a tight-knit environment where everyone knows your name. While 11 schools are strictly rural, four are located in town centers like Sidney. Sidney High School is the largest facility with 387 students, providing a contrast to smaller rural primary schools.
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.