📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Montana
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Denton High School District | Coffee Creek | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Power High School District | Power | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Broadview High School District | Acton | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Shields Valley High School District | Clyde Park | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Absarokee High School District | Absarokee | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #6 | Highwood K-12 | Highwood | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #7 | Manhattan High School District | Manhattan | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #8 | Belt High School District | Belt | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #9 | Ennis K-12 Schools | Big Sky | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #10 | Sunburst K-12 Schools | Kevin | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #11 | Whitefish High School District | Olney | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #12 | Bozeman School District | Bozeman | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #13 | Centerville High School District | Great Falls | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #14 | Gardiner High School District | Cooke City | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #15 | Opheim K-12 Schools | Glentana | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #16 | Twin Bridges K-12 Schools | Silver Star | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #17 | Winifred K-12 Schools | Hilger | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #18 | Big Sky School K-12 | Gallatin Gateway | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #19 | Plains K-12 Schools | Paradise | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #20 | Malta K-12 Schools | Loring | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #21 | Plevna K-12 Schools | Plevna | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #22 | Scobey K-12 Schools | Flaxville | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #23 | Plentywood K-12 Schools | Antelope | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #24 | Red Lodge High School District | Bearcreek | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #25 | Winnett K-12 Schools | Winnett | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
Best School Districts in Montana (2026)
This ranking covers 150 rated public school districts in Montana, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data (2021–22 for 90% of districts, 2017–18 fallback for the rest). Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Montana School Districts at a Glance
- 150 of the 392 regular school districts operating in Montana have a published rating on this site.
- 46 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from NCES EDFacts, and every district is ranked against other districts in Montana only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Denton High School District in Coffee Creek, rated 10/10.
- Montana has 98 high-school-only districts, so an address here can sit in an elementary district and a separate high school district at the same time. How split districts work →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Montana? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 or 2017–18 fallback), the top-rated district is Denton High School District in Coffee Creek, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Montana? ▼
Montana has 392 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 150 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Montana school district ratings based on? ▼
NCES EDFacts. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Montana and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Montana are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
46 of the 150 rated districts in Montana score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Montana, not the country.
Can one address in Montana be in two school districts? ▼
Yes. Montana has 98 districts that serve only high school grades, so a home can be in an elementary district for the lower grades and a separate high school district for grades 9–12. Search your street address to see every district that serves it.