Sanders County Schools & Education
Sanders County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,551
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#19
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Sanders County
Measured School Summary
Sanders County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.4%.
Funding Context
Sanders County spends $8,551 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 4% above the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Sanders 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
16 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
57/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #19 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
88.4%
4.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,551
$783 below the state average
School coverage
16
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
Sanders County has 16 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 Sanders 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
Sanders 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
#19
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.
Plains K-12
Elementary to high school visible
453 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Thompson Falls Elem
Elementary and middle visible
320 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Thompson Falls H S
High school only in this slice
201 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Hot Springs K-12
Elementary to high school visible
166 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Hot Springs K-12 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 Sanders County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Sanders 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 Sanders 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.
Eight Districts Power the Clark Fork Valley
Sanders County educates 1,432 students across 16 public schools. The infrastructure includes a balanced mix of six elementary, six middle, and four high schools managed by eight local districts. This decentralized system keeps schools close to the small communities dotting the river valley.
Plains and Thompson Falls Anchor Education
Plains K-12 is the largest district with 453 students, followed by Hot Springs K-12 with 166. Thompson Falls Elementary and High School also serve as major hubs for the county's western half. There are no charter schools, ensuring the 16 traditional public schools remain the primary focus of community support.
Personalized Education in Rural Montana
Every single school in Sanders County is located in a rural locale, emphasizing the area's rugged character. Schools are very small, with an average enrollment of only 90 students per campus. Plains Elementary and Thompson Falls Elementary are the largest individual schools, each serving 247 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
16
in Sanders County
Reported Enrollment
1,432
16 schools reporting
School Districts
8
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
8 School Districts in Sanders County
Plains K-12
Thompson Falls Elem
Thompson Falls H S
Hot Springs K-12
Noxon Elem
Noxon H S
Trout Creek Elem
Dixon Elem
16 Public Schools in Sanders 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 16 of 16 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plains Elementary School | Record | Plains K-12 | Plains, 59859Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 247 |
| Thompson Falls Elem Schl | Record | Thompson Falls Elem | Thompson Falls, 59873Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 247 |
| Thompson Falls High Schl | Record | Thompson Falls H S | Thompson Falls, 59873Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 201 |
| Plains High School | Record | Plains K-12 | Plains, 59859Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 138 |
| Hot Springs School | Record | Hot Springs K-12 | Hot Springs, 59845Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 98 |
| Noxon School | Record | Noxon Elem | Noxon, 59853Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 82 |
| Thompson Falls 7-8 | Record | Thompson Falls Elem | Thompson Falls, 59873Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 73 |
| Plains 7-8 | Record | Plains K-12 | Plains, 59859Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 68 |
| Noxon High School | Record | Noxon H S | Noxon, 59853Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 67 |
| Trout Creek School | Record | Trout Creek Elem | Trout Creek, 59874Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 51 |
| Dixon Elementary | Record | Dixon Elem | Dixon, 59831Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 46 |
| Hot Springs High School | Record | Hot Springs K-12 | Hot Springs, 59845Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 46 |
| Hot Springs 7-8 | Record | Hot Springs K-12 | Hot Springs, 59845Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 22 |
| Noxon 7-8 | Record | Noxon Elem | Noxon, 59853Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 21 |
| Trout Creek 7-8 | Record | Trout Creek Elem | Trout Creek, 59874Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 15 |
| Dixon 7-8 | Record | Dixon Elem | Dixon, 59831Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 10 |
Thompson Falls Elem Schl
Thompson Falls Elem
Thompson Falls, 59873 / Rural: Remote
Thompson Falls High Schl
Thompson Falls H S
Thompson Falls, 59873 / Rural: Remote
Thompson Falls 7-8
Thompson Falls Elem
Thompson Falls, 59873 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,551
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Sanders 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 Sanders County?
What is the graduation rate in Sanders County?
How much does Sanders County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Sanders County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Sanders County, Montana?
Sanders County educates 1,432 students across 16 public schools. The infrastructure includes a balanced mix of six elementary, six middle, and four high schools managed by eight local districts. This decentralized system keeps schools close to the small communities dotting the river valley.
What are the major school districts in Sanders County, Montana?
Plains K-12 is the largest district with 453 students, followed by Hot Springs K-12 with 166. Thompson Falls Elementary and High School also serve as major hubs for the county's western half. There are no charter schools, ensuring the 16 traditional public schools remain the primary focus of community support.
What is the school experience like in Sanders County?
Every single school in Sanders County is located in a rural locale, emphasizing the area's rugged character. Schools are very small, with an average enrollment of only 90 students per campus. Plains Elementary and Thompson Falls Elementary are the largest individual schools, each serving 247 students.
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.