Toole County Schools & Education
Toole County, Montana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
86/100
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
$9,695
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,334
School Score
86/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#6
of 56 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Toole County
Measured School Summary
Toole County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 86/100 and a graduation rate of 95.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Toole County spends $9,695 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 56% above the Montana average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 11.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Toole 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
11 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
86/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #6 of 56 Montana counties with school score data.
Completion
95.0%
11.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,695
$361 above the state average
School coverage
11
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
Toole County has 11 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 Toole 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
Toole 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
#6
of 56 Montana counties with school score data. The county score is 31 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.
Shelby Elem
Elementary and middle visible
390 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Sunburst K-12 Schools
Elementary to high school visible
125 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Shelby H S
High school only in this slice
120 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Liberty Elem
Elementary school only in this slice
21 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Liberty Elem 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 Toole County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Toole 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 Toole 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.
Centralized Education in a Rural Hub
Toole County manages 11 public schools serving 662 total students through five distinct districts. The infrastructure consists of seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.
Shelby Elementary Leads the Region
Shelby Elementary is the largest district, overseeing four schools and 390 students. All education in the county is provided through traditional public schools, as there are no charter schools currently in operation.
Mix of Rural and Town Locales
While eight schools are rural, three are located in town settings, offering some variety in campus environments. Shelby Elementary School is the largest campus with 281 students, while the county average sits at 60 students per school.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in Toole County
Reported Enrollment
662
11 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Toole County
Shelby Elem
Sunburst K-12 Schools
Shelby H S
Liberty Elem
Galata Elem
11 Public Schools in Toole 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 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby Elementary School | Record | Shelby Elem | Shelby, 59474Town: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 281 |
| Shelby High School | Record | Shelby H S | Shelby, 59474Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 120 |
| Shelby 7-8 | Record | Shelby Elem | Shelby, 59474Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 76 |
| Sunburst Elementary | Record | Sunburst K-12 Schools | Sunburst, 59482Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 68 |
| Sunburst High School | Record | Sunburst K-12 Schools | Sunburst, 59482Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 40 |
| Cam Rose School | Record | Shelby Elem | Shelby, 59474Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 19 |
| Sunburst 7 - 8 | Record | Sunburst K-12 Schools | Sunburst, 59482Rural: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 17 |
| Big Rose Colony School | Record | Shelby Elem | Shelby, 59474Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 14 |
| Rimrock Colony School | Record | Liberty Elem | Galata, 59444Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 12 |
| Hillside Colony School | Record | Liberty Elem | Galata, 59444Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 9 |
| Galata School | Record | Galata Elem | Galata, 59444Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 6 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,695
State avg $9,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Toole 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 Toole County?
What is the graduation rate in Toole County?
How much does Toole County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Toole County, Montana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Toole County, Montana?
Toole County manages 11 public schools serving 662 total students through five distinct districts. The infrastructure consists of seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.
What are the major school districts in Toole County, Montana?
Shelby Elementary is the largest district, overseeing four schools and 390 students. All education in the county is provided through traditional public schools, as there are no charter schools currently in operation.
What is the school experience like in Toole County?
While eight schools are rural, three are located in town settings, offering some variety in campus environments. Shelby Elementary School is the largest campus with 281 students, while the county average sits at 60 students per school.
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.