| Metric | Hot Springs K-12 | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 166 | 3,544 | ↓ Smaller than avg |
| Number of Schools | 3 | 7 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $20,101/yr | $17,619/yr | Small district — per-pupil varies |
| District Type | Public School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
| District | Rating | Percentile | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs K-12 (this district) | 6/10 | 52nd | 166 |
| Polson High School District | 7/10 | 60th | 524 |
| Plains K-12 Schools | 9/10 | 88th | 453 |
| Ronan High School District | 2/10 | 11th | 416 |
🔢 Show the math behind this rating
Ranked against 150 rated districts in MT → 52nd percentile → 6/10.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts, 2021–22 school year. Full methodology →
- Hot Springs School — 7.6 mi · Grades PK–6 · 111 students
- Hot Springs High School — 7.6 mi · Grades 9–12 · 60 students
- Hot Springs 7-8 — 7.6 mi · Grades 7–8 · 26 students
About Hot Springs K-12
Zip code 59845 in Hot Springs, Montana is served by Hot Springs K-12 for public school enrollment. The district covers grades Pre-K–12th. This page provides a data-driven overview of Hot Springs K-12’s funding levels, size, rating, and what families should know before enrolling or making a housing decision in this area.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Hot Springs K-12 6 out of 10 — average among Montana public school districts. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in the U.S. Department of Education’s EDFacts collection (2021–22 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Montana is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
⚠️ Small-district caveat. Hot Springs K-12 enrolls 166 students. A percentile rank drawn from so few test-takers is statistically unstable — it can move several points from one year to the next on normal variation alone, and a single class of students can swing it. Treat this rating as a rough signal rather than a precise ranking, and look at the school-level detail below before drawing conclusions.
Hot Springs K-12 falls near the middle of Montana on state assessment results, with reading and math proficiency close to the state median. Average-rated districts provide foundational public education, and many families find they deliver solid day-to-day learning — particularly when parents stay engaged. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 59845
Children in zip code 59845 are assigned to Hot Springs K-12 for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K–12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 59845, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Hot Springs K-12 at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Montana districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Hot Springs
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Hot Springs K-12 serves zip code 59845, buyers should factor school district quality into their overall evaluation of homes in zip code 59845. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Montana, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Hot Springs K-12 programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 59845.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments and phone numbers are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring; per-pupil spending comes from the US Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances, released about two years after the fiscal year it covers. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Hot Springs K-12 before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 59845 data.