Best high schools for sports in Montana
More than 7.6 million high school students played sports across the U.S. during the 2021-22 academic year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those athletes participated in a slew of sports: from football—the most popular sport for high school boys with 1 million players nationwide—to track and field, which is the most popular sport amongst high school girls in the U.S. with more than 488,000 athletes.
The dynamic landscape of high school sports has created competition not only between athletes but the institutions they represent. With more than 23,500 public and private secondary and high schools across the country, determining the best options for athletes is an arduous process.
High schools across the country are vying to be crowned the best institution for athletes in America and not only has the battle become personal but regional as well. States like California and Florida, which have high-profile high-school athletic programs, also want bragging rights.
Young athletes will continue to thrive as sports return to pre-pandemic participation levels and high schools put in the work to be considered one of the best institutions in America for sports.
Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in Montana using data from Niche. These rankings factor in parent and student surveys on sports, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of sports, and athletic participation rates.
#25. Malta High School
- City: Malta
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: C+
#24. Plains High School
- City: Plains
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#23. Whitefish High School
- City: Whitefish
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#22. Sidney High School
- City: Sidney
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#20. Huntley Project High School
- City: Worden
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#19. Red Lodge High School
- City: Red Lodge
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#18. Manhattan High School
- City: Manhattan
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#17. Cut Bank High School
- City: Cut Bank
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: C+
#16. Belt High School
- City: Belt
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: C+
#15. Chinook High School
- City: Chinook
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#14. Laurel High School
- City: Laurel
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: C
#13. Manhattan Christian School
- City: Manhattan
- Type: Private, Christian (General)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#12. Billings West High School
- City: Billings
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#11. Bigfork High School
- City: Bigfork
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#10. Billings Senior High School
- City: Billings
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#9. Fairfield High School
- City: Fairfield
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#8. Beaverhead County High School
- City: Dillon
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#7. Loyola Sacred Heart High School
- City: Missoula
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#6. Polson High School
- City: Polson
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#5. Bozeman High School
- City: Bozeman
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#4. Hamilton High School
- City: Hamilton
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#3. Sentinel High School
- City: Missoula
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#2. Billings Central Catholic High School
- City: Billings
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A
#1. Glacier High School
- City: Kalispell
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
