Best school districts in Montana

A good school can lead to a lifetime of opportunities. Myriad data shows that lifetime earnings dramatically increase with every degree obtained. Bachelor's degree holders will earn an average of roughly $26,000 more each year than high school graduates. And for those who decide that pursuing a college degree is not the best postsecondary option, a good school will provide students with the tools and support to make that choice, and the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.

For many families, the school district is a top criteria when deciding where to buy a home. But this consideration and ability to choose is not a luxury all families can afford, especially in today's wildly competitive housing market.

One important proxy of a quality education is per-student spending. According to the most recent Census data available, the national average per-pupil expenditure in fiscal year 2019 was $13,187. Several recent studies suggest that increased spending per student correlates with higher academic achievement, particularly in districts serving predominantly low-income students. Since public schools are largely funded by property taxes, schools in low-income areas suffer the most from a lack of funding for critical expenditures like staff salaries and benefits, transportation, instructional resources, and support services.

There are more than 13,000 school districts in the U.S., each one slightly different, for better or worse, than the next. However, several common denominators exist and, when compared, can serve as indicators of what makes an impactful district.

Stacker compiled a list of the best school districts in Montana using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks school districts based on a variety of criteria including academics (SAT/ACT scores and state proficiency tests), teacher salaries, expenses per student, and access to extracurricular activities.

#10. Hamilton Public Schools (Hamilton)
- Number of schools: 4 (1,486 students)
- Graduation rate: 95% (45% reading proficient and 39% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $52,973 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

#9. Corvallis Public Schools (Corvallis)
- Number of schools: 4 (1,437 students)
- Graduation rate: 95% (54% reading proficient and 48% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $52,875 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)

#8. Helena High School District (Helena)
- Number of schools: 2 (2,693 students)
- Graduation rate: 88% (57% reading proficient and 40% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $80,865 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)

#7. Sunburst Public Schools (Sunburst)
- Number of schools: 3 (133 students)
- Graduation rate: No data available (57% reading proficient and 57% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $62,085 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)

#6. Ennis Public Schools (Ennis)
- Number of schools: 3 (374 students)
- Graduation rate: 90% (62% reading proficient and 47% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $40,196 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

#5. Plains High School District (Plains)
- Number of schools: 3 (475 students)
- Graduation rate: 90% (53% reading proficient and 50% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $21,579 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

#4. Geraldine Public Schools (Geraldine)
- Number of schools: 3 (58 students)
- Graduation rate: No data available (25% reading proficient and 35% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: No data available (5:1 student to teacher ratio)

#3. Big Sky School District (Gallatin Gateway)
- Number of schools: 3 (380 students)
- Graduation rate: No data available (62% reading proficient and 56% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $37,584 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)

#2. Hobson Public Schools (Hobson)
- Number of schools: 3 (119 students)
- Graduation rate: No data available (75% reading proficient and 45% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $47,034 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)

#1. Highwood K-12 (Highwood)
- Number of schools: 3 (112 students)
- Graduation rate: No data available (72% reading proficient and 72% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $37,858 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)