Stillwater County Schools & Education
Stillwater County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
90.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 83.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,474
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#14
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Stillwater County
Measured School Summary
Stillwater County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.9%.
Funding Context
Stillwater County spends $8,474 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 16% above the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 7.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Stillwater 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
17 public schools and 12 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
64/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #14 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
90.9%
7.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,474
$860 below the state average
School coverage
17
12 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
Stillwater County has 17 public schools across 12 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 Stillwater 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
Stillwater 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
#14
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 9 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.
Columbus Elem
Elementary and middle visible
469 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Columbus H S
High school only in this slice
244 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Park City Elem
Elementary and middle visible
224 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Absarokee Elem
Elementary and middle visible
107 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Absarokee 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 Stillwater County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Stillwater 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 Stillwater 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.
Strong Local Control Across Twelve Districts
Stillwater County serves 1,356 students across 17 public schools, including seven elementary and five high schools. With 12 different school districts, the county emphasizes localized community governance. This ensures that even the smallest towns have a direct say in their children's education.
Columbus Schools at the County's Core
Columbus Elementary is the largest district, serving 469 students across two schools. Park City Elementary is the next largest hub, educating 224 students. All 17 schools are traditional public institutions, as no charter schools currently operate within Stillwater County's borders.
Small Schools in a Purely Rural Setting
Every school in Stillwater County is classified as rural, providing a peaceful and focused learning environment. The average school size is just 80 students, with Columbus Elementary being the largest at 304 students. This small-scale approach allows for high levels of student participation in sports and clubs.
School Overview
Total Schools
17
in Stillwater County
Reported Enrollment
1,356
17 schools reporting
School Districts
12
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
12 School Districts in Stillwater County
Columbus Elem
Columbus H S
Park City Elem
Absarokee Elem
Park City H S
Absarokee H S
Rapelje Elem
Reed Point Elem
Reed Point H S
Rapelje H S
17 Public Schools in Stillwater 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 17 of 17 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Elem School | Record | Columbus Elem | Columbus, 59019Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 304 |
| Columbus High School | Record | Columbus H S | Columbus, 59019Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 244 |
| Park City School | Record | Park City Elem | Park City, 59063Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 174 |
| Columbus Middle School | Record | Columbus Elem | Columbus, 59019Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 165 |
| Park City High School | Record | Park City H S | Park City, 59063Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 102 |
| Absarokee High School | Record | Absarokee H S | Absarokee, 59001Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 71 |
| Absarokee School | Record | Absarokee Elem | Absarokee, 59001Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 64 |
| Park City 7-8 | Record | Park City Elem | Park City, 59063Rural: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 50 |
| Absarokee 6-8 | Record | Absarokee Elem | Absarokee, 59001Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 43 |
| Rapelje School | Record | Rapelje Elem | Rapelje, 59067Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 36 |
| Reed Point Elementary | Record | Reed Point Elem | Reed Point, 59069Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 32 |
| Reed Point High School | Record | Reed Point H S | Reed Point, 59069Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 19 |
| Rapelje High School | Record | Rapelje H S | Rapelje, 59067Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 18 |
| Fishtail School | Record | Fishtail Elem | Fishtail, 59028Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 13 |
| Nye School | Record | Nye Elem | Nye, 59061Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 8 |
| Rapelje 7-8 | Record | Rapelje Elem | Rapelje, 59067Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 8 |
| Reed Point 7-8 | Record | Reed Point Elem | Reed Point, 59069Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 5 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,474
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Stillwater 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 Stillwater County?
What is the graduation rate in Stillwater County?
How much does Stillwater County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Stillwater County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Stillwater County, Montana?
Stillwater County serves 1,356 students across 17 public schools, including seven elementary and five high schools. With 12 different school districts, the county emphasizes localized community governance. This ensures that even the smallest towns have a direct say in their children's education.
What are the major school districts in Stillwater County, Montana?
Columbus Elementary is the largest district, serving 469 students across two schools. Park City Elementary is the next largest hub, educating 224 students. All 17 schools are traditional public institutions, as no charter schools currently operate within Stillwater County's borders.
What is the school experience like in Stillwater County?
Every school in Stillwater County is classified as rural, providing a peaceful and focused learning environment. The average school size is just 80 students, with Columbus Elementary being the largest at 304 students. This small-scale approach allows for high levels of student participation in sports and clubs.
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.