What Montana School Districts Spend Per Student
The median Montana school district spends $15,874 per student per year, $1,331 above the national median of $14,543, across all 390 districts the state reports. The 383 of them a ZIP code can reach are listed below, and their 148,598 students account for $2.0 billion of current spending in fiscal year 2022.
Montana at a Glance
| Median district, per student | $15,874 |
|---|---|
| National median district | $14,543 |
| Districts listed | 383 of 390 |
| Students listed | 148,598 |
| Median district, math | ≈36% |
| Median district, reading | ≈49% |
Every Montana District, by Enrollment
Spending is current spending divided by fall membership for fiscal year 2022. Proficiency and graduation rates are school year 2018-19, the last year before the pandemic interrupted state testing, so the money and the results are not from the same year. A figure marked ≈ is one the federal file published as a range rather than a value, so small groups of children stay unidentifiable; it is the middle of that range and within ten points of the real one. A dash means the federal files publish no value under that district's ID. 7 further Montana districts are missing because the federal boundary file places them in no ZIP code, which is normal for charter and virtual districts with no attendance area.
| District | Students | Per student | Math | Reading | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings Elementary School District (elementary district) | 11,079 | $12,537 | 41% | 42% | — |
| Great Falls Elementary School District (elementary district) | 7,114 | $12,418 | 43% | 52% | — |
| Billings High School District (high school district) | 5,660 | $11,891 | 33% | 43% | 85% |
| Missoula Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5,385 | $12,776 | 52% | 62% | — |
| Helena Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5,181 | $13,560 | 47% | 56% | — |
| Bozeman Elementary School District (elementary district) | 4,711 | $11,190 | 61% | 70% | — |
| Missoula High School District (high school district) | 3,834 | $13,212 | 39% | 53% | 84% |
| Kalispell Elementary School District (elementary district) | 3,136 | $12,023 | 52% | 66% | — |
| Great Falls High School District (high school district) | 3,130 | $10,688 | 33% | 42% | 83% |
| Flathead High School District (high school district) | 3,037 | $10,924 | 35% | 55% | 86% |
| Butte Elementary School District (elementary district) | 2,964 | $10,930 | 43% | 57% | — |
| Bozeman High School District (high school district) | 2,502 | $12,268 | 53% | 66% | 85% |
| Helena High School District (high school district) | 2,478 | $13,331 | 40% | 57% | 88% |
| Belgrade Elementary School District (elementary district) | 2,356 | $11,061 | 51% | 57% | — |
| East Helena K-12 | 1,739 | $10,320 | 45% | 49% | — |
| Hamilton K-12 Schools | 1,590 | $11,709 | 39% | 45% | ≈98% |
| Columbia Falls Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,551 | $11,667 | 45% | 58% | — |
| Lockwood K-12 | 1,537 | $12,267 | 26% | 34% | — |
| Hellgate Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,478 | $11,930 | 52% | 59% | — |
| Frenchtown K-12 Schools | 1,463 | $10,960 | 36% | 43% | ≈98% |
| Hardin Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,348 | $15,447 | 12% | 17% | — |
| Corvallis K-12 Schools | 1,323 | $11,701 | 48% | 54% | ≈98% |
| Whitefish Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,306 | $12,144 | 54% | 66% | — |
| Butte High School District (high school district) | 1,295 | $15,132 | 31% | 49% | 91% |
| Laurel Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,275 | $12,716 | 32% | 30% | — |
| Havre Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,208 | $11,930 | 41% | 51% | — |
| Browning Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,203 | $23,537 | 8% | 14% | — |
| Libby K-12 Schools | 1,165 | $11,799 | 48% | 55% | ≈98% |
| Polson Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,152 | $11,418 | 38% | 49% | — |
| Ronan Elementary School District (elementary district) | 1,099 | $12,324 | 30% | 40% | — |
| Belgrade High School District (high school district) | 1,036 | $10,493 | 40% | 51% | 88% |
| Miles City Elementary School District (elementary district) | 949 | $12,469 | 36% | 45% | — |
| Sidney Elementary School District (elementary district) | 886 | $11,705 | 38% | 49% | — |
| Lewistown Elementary School District (elementary district) | 853 | $12,033 | 48% | 58% | — |
| Livingston Elementary School District (elementary district) | 848 | $15,061 | 33% | 46% | — |
| Florence-Carlton K-12 Schools | 813 | $11,943 | 45% | 60% | ≈98% |
| Glendive Elementary School District (elementary district) | 803 | $12,917 | 26% | 41% | — |
| Glasgow K-12 Schools | 791 | $12,942 | 35% | 39% | ≈92% |
| Anaconda Elementary School District (elementary district) | 766 | $15,529 | 24% | 31% | — |
| West Valley Elementary School District (elementary district) | 766 | $10,202 | 46% | 65% | — |
| Huntley Project K-12 Schools | 748 | $15,443 | 34% | 41% | ≈87% |
| Dillon Elementary School District (elementary district) | 730 | $11,553 | 53% | 69% | — |
| Evergreen Elementary School District (elementary district) | 702 | $14,266 | 43% | 47% | — |
| Stevensville Elementary School District (elementary district) | 680 | $9,009 | 41% | 42% | — |
| Columbia Falls High School District (high school district) | 671 | $13,247 | ≈27% | ≈42% | ≈92% |
| Monforton Elementary School District (elementary district) | 668 | $8,674 | 66% | 67% | — |
| Townsend K-12 Schools | 667 | $12,223 | 48% | 49% | ≈85% |
| Elder Grove Elementary School District (elementary district) | 662 | $9,364 | 35% | 51% | — |
| Laurel High School District (high school district) | 629 | $11,124 | ≈22% | ≈27% | ≈92% |
| Poplar Elementary School District (elementary district) | 627 | $20,654 | 4% | 12% | — |
| Bigfork Elementary School District (elementary district) | 605 | $10,150 | 42% | 62% | — |
| Whitefish High School District (high school district) | 576 | $14,111 | ≈52% | ≈62% | ≈92% |
| Somers Elementary School District (elementary district) | 568 | $11,095 | 54% | 67% | — |
| Target Range Elementary School District (elementary district) | 568 | $10,898 | 54% | 61% | — |
| Browning High School District (high school district) | 553 | $15,349 | ≈3% | ≈3% | ≈67% |
| Cut Bank Elementary School District (elementary district) | 552 | $13,475 | 29% | 37% | — |
| Lolo Elementary School District (elementary district) | 538 | $12,563 | 34% | 46% | — |
| Hardin High School District (high school district) | 529 | $11,741 | ≈12% | ≈17% | ≈72% |
| Wolf Point Elementary School District (elementary district) | 528 | $15,716 | 11% | 16% | — |
| Havre High School District (high school district) | 520 | $12,544 | ≈37% | ≈52% | ≈82% |
| Shepherd Elementary School District (elementary district) | 520 | $11,221 | 38% | 46% | — |
| Polson High School District (high school district) | 511 | $13,826 | ≈32% | ≈42% | ≈87% |
| Three Forks Elementary School District (elementary district) | 511 | $9,885 | 33% | 50% | — |
| Malta K-12 Schools | 509 | $13,204 | 37% | 51% | ≈95% |
| Custer County High School District (high school district) | 508 | $11,996 | ≈32% | ≈37% | ≈92% |
| Manhattan School (elementary district) | 503 | $10,775 | 47% | 63% | — |
| Baker K-12 Schools | 480 | $17,598 | 46% | 50% | ≈90% |
| Eureka Elementary School District (elementary district) | 475 | $12,724 | 41% | 49% | — |
| St. Ignatius K-12 Schools | 475 | $16,672 | 23% | 27% | ≈95% |
| Montana City Elementary School District (elementary district) | 467 | $10,400 | 50% | 57% | — |
| Columbus Elementary School District (elementary district) | 461 | $11,705 | 49% | 60% | — |
| Harlem Elementary School District (elementary district) | 453 | $16,993 | 38% | 35% | — |
| Rocky Boy Elementary School District (elementary district) | 452 | $22,283 | 11% | 18% | — |
| Plains K-12 Schools | 450 | $12,424 | 50% | 53% | ≈90% |
| Park High School District (high school district) | 422 | $14,969 | ≈37% | ≈57% | ≈92% |
| Ennis K-12 Schools | 411 | $13,754 | ≈47% | ≈62% | ≈90% |
| Big Sky School K-12 | 400 | $13,830 | 56% | 62% | ≈90% |
| Deer Lodge Elementary School District (elementary district) | 400 | $13,715 | 45% | 50% | — |
| Colstrip Elementary School District (elementary district) | 395 | $17,881 | 28% | 41% | — |
| Elysian Elementary School District (elementary district) | 391 | $10,084 | 52% | 62% | — |
| Sidney High School District (high school district) | 388 | $16,106 | ≈37% | ≈42% | ≈87% |
| Stevensville High School District (high school district) | 383 | $14,982 | ≈37% | ≈47% | ≈98% |
| Roundup Elementary School District (elementary district) | 381 | $12,906 | 38% | 52% | — |
| Shelby Elementary School District (elementary district) | 372 | $10,605 | ≈22% | ≈42% | — |
| Ronan High School District (high school district) | 371 | $14,412 | ≈17% | ≈37% | ≈92% |
| Clancy Elementary School District (elementary district) | 370 | $8,957 | 62% | 72% | — |
| Lame Deer Elementary School District (elementary district) | 364 | $19,212 | 2% | 5% | — |
| Plentywood K-12 Schools | 359 | $14,214 | ≈37% | ≈47% | ≈90% |
| Conrad Elementary School District (elementary district) | 358 | $11,606 | ≈32% | ≈42% | — |
| Darby K-12 Schools | 349 | $13,880 | ≈27% | ≈32% | ≈90% |
| Superior K-12 Schools | 349 | $13,172 | ≈27% | ≈37% | ≈90% |
| Bonner Elementary School District (elementary district) | 347 | $13,346 | 28% | 42% | — |
| Bigfork High School District (high school district) | 343 | $13,344 | ≈32% | ≈57% | ≈87% |
| Dawson High School District (high school district) | 341 | $13,944 | ≈22% | ≈57% | ≈87% |
| Fergus High School District (high school district) | 339 | $14,029 | ≈27% | ≈27% | ≈92% |
| Big Timber Elementary School District (elementary district) | 333 | $9,811 | 40% | 50% | — |
| Beaverhead County High School District (high school district) | 325 | $16,412 | ≈32% | ≈47% | ≈98% |
| Whitehall Elementary School District (elementary district) | 324 | $12,620 | 50% | 56% | — |
| Red Lodge Elementary School District (elementary district) | 319 | $12,784 | 47% | 47% | — |
| Independent Elementary School District (elementary district) | 302 | $9,560 | ≈52% | ≈57% | — |
| Anaconda High School District (high school district) | 293 | $11,795 | ≈37% | ≈47% | ≈77% |
| Lincoln County High School District (high school district) | 293 | $10,488 | ≈25% | ≈45% | ≈92% |
| Box Elder Elementary School District (elementary district) | 292 | $21,589 | ≈22% | ≈32% | — |
| Jefferson High School District (high school district) | 291 | $15,206 | ≈22% | ≈27% | ≈75% |
| Thompson Falls Elementary School District (elementary district) | 290 | $14,776 | ≈37% | ≈52% | — |
| Hays-Lodge Pole K-12 Schools | 288 | $22,663 | ≈17% | ≈22% | ≈90% |
| Scobey K-12 Schools | 279 | $14,835 | ≈47% | ≈52% | ≈90% |
| Cayuse Prairie Elementary School District (elementary district) | 276 | $11,681 | ≈42% | ≈52% | — |
| West Yellowstone K-12 | 276 | $12,130 | ≈32% | ≈42% | — |
| Belt Elementary School District (elementary district) | 275 | $9,473 | ≈77% | ≈72% | — |
| Joliet Elementary School District (elementary district) | 274 | $10,985 | ≈37% | ≈52% | — |
| Arlee Elementary School District (elementary district) | 273 | $19,579 | 12% | 17% | — |
| Troy Elementary School District (elementary district) | 273 | $16,524 | ≈42% | ≈52% | — |
| Helena Flats Elementary School District (elementary district) | 271 | $8,793 | ≈37% | ≈47% | — |
| Harlowton K-12 Schools | 268 | $18,101 | — | — | — |
| Shepherd High School District (high school district) | 265 | $13,868 | ≈35% | ≈45% | ≈95% |
| Victor K-12 Schools | 261 | $15,330 | ≈8% | ≈27% | ≈90% |
| Manhattan High School District (high school district) | 260 | $13,915 | ≈47% | ≈47% | ≈95% |
| Three Forks High School District (high school district) | 255 | $9,765 | ≈25% | ≈55% | ≈95% |
| Canyon Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 249 | $10,618 | ≈52% | ≈57% | — |
| Fort Benton Elementary School District (elementary district) | 246 | $10,272 | ≈72% | ≈77% | — |
| Lodge Grass Elementary School District (elementary district) | 244 | $19,885 | ≈3% | ≈3% | — |
| Poplar High School District (high school district) | 243 | $20,761 | ≈5% | ≈5% | ≈65% |
| Choteau Elementary School District (elementary district) | 240 | $14,121 | ≈52% | ≈62% | — |
| Cut Bank High School District (high school district) | 240 | $14,767 | ≈15% | ≈25% | ≈95% |
| Wolf Point High School District (high school district) | 239 | $15,841 | ≈15% | ≈25% | ≈75% |
| Chinook Elementary School District (elementary district) | 234 | $15,692 | ≈42% | ≈37% | — |
| Columbus High School District (high school district) | 234 | $13,632 | ≈45% | ≈55% | ≈95% |
| Centerville Elementary School District (elementary district) | 228 | $12,232 | ≈42% | ≈52% | — |
| Heart Butte K-12 Schools | 225 | $25,591 | ≈3% | ≈3% | — |
| Forsyth Elementary School District (elementary district) | 218 | $13,376 | ≈57% | ≈52% | — |
| Lone Rock Elementary School District (elementary district) | 213 | $12,188 | ≈52% | ≈62% | — |
| Twin Bridges K-12 Schools | 210 | $15,771 | ≈42% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Thompson Falls High School District (high school district) | 209 | $13,909 | ≈25% | ≈35% | ≈95% |
| Park City Elementary School District (elementary district) | 207 | $12,725 | ≈27% | ≈32% | — |
| Fairfield Elementary School District (elementary district) | 206 | $10,888 | ≈67% | ≈72% | — |
| Anderson Elementary School District (elementary district) | 205 | $12,244 | ≈67% | ≈72% | — |
| Clinton Elementary School District (elementary district) | 203 | $14,764 | ≈27% | ≈47% | — |
| Culbertson Elementary School District (elementary district) | 198 | $14,455 | ≈17% | ≈22% | — |
| St. Regis K-12 Schools | 195 | $18,872 | ≈32% | ≈47% | — |
| White Sulphur Springs K-12 | 194 | $17,608 | ≈37% | ≈37% | — |
| Big Sandy K-12 Schools | 189 | $16,989 | ≈42% | ≈52% | — |
| Cascade Elementary School District (elementary district) | 189 | $12,460 | ≈67% | ≈72% | — |
| Chester-Joplin-Inverness Elementary School District (elementary district) | 188 | $12,670 | ≈57% | ≈62% | — |
| Boulder Elementary School District (elementary district) | 187 | $17,722 | ≈47% | ≈57% | — |
| Swan River Elementary School District (elementary district) | 187 | $8,358 | ≈47% | ≈67% | — |
| Seeley Lake Elementary School District (elementary district) | 185 | $13,130 | ≈32% | ≈42% | — |
| Kila Elementary School District (elementary district) | 184 | $10,940 | ≈42% | ≈67% | — |
| Lame Deer High School District (high school district) | 182 | $20,005 | — | — | ≈55% |
| Bridger K-12 Schools | 180 | $18,906 | ≈37% | ≈42% | — |
| Red Lodge High School District (high school district) | 180 | $15,906 | ≈35% | ≈65% | ≈95% |
| Hot Springs K-12 | 179 | $20,218 | ≈27% | ≈32% | — |
| Philipsburg K-12 Schools | 179 | $16,777 | ≈42% | ≈67% | — |
| Lodge Grass High School District (high school district) | 178 | $21,455 | ≈10% | ≈10% | ≈25% |
| Blue Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 176 | $10,136 | ≈37% | ≈52% | — |
| Harlem High School District (high school district) | 175 | $16,051 | ≈15% | ≈15% | ≈85% |
| Powell County High School District (high school district) | 175 | $20,714 | ≈35% | ≈35% | ≈95% |
| Roundup High School District (high school district) | 174 | $14,506 | ≈25% | ≈15% | ≈95% |
| Deer Park Elementary School District (elementary district) | 169 | $8,657 | ≈57% | ≈77% | — |
| Fairview Elementary School District (elementary district) | 169 | $19,041 | ≈22% | ≈42% | — |
| Sun River Valley Elementary School District (elementary district) | 166 | $16,922 | ≈32% | ≈57% | — |
| Ramsay Elementary School District (elementary district) | 164 | $12,561 | ≈37% | ≈42% | — |
| Sweet Grass County High School District (high school district) | 164 | $21,030 | ≈25% | ≈45% | ≈95% |
| Bainville K-12 Schools | 163 | $24,190 | ≈32% | ≈47% | — |
| Charlo Elementary School District (elementary district) | 160 | $11,450 | ≈57% | ≈72% | — |
| Marion Elementary School District (elementary district) | 157 | $12,153 | ≈37% | ≈37% | — |
| Amsterdam Elementary School District (elementary district) | 156 | $9,628 | ≈67% | ≈82% | — |
| Wibaux K-12 Schools | 155 | $21,052 | ≈37% | ≈42% | — |
| Gallatin Gateway Elementary School District (elementary district) | 152 | $12,822 | ≈42% | ≈57% | — |
| Vaughn Elementary School District (elementary district) | 152 | $13,066 | ≈22% | ≈32% | — |
| Lincoln K-12 Schools | 150 | $16,760 | ≈55% | ≈62% | ≈70% |
| Shields Valley Elementary School District (elementary district) | 150 | $12,907 | ≈62% | ≈62% | — |
| Alberton K-12 Schools | 148 | $18,453 | ≈32% | ≈42% | — |
| Sheridan Elementary School District (elementary district) | 148 | $12,378 | ≈62% | ≈72% | — |
| Colstrip High School District (high school district) | 147 | $32,190 | ≈35% | ≈35% | ≈85% |
| Fair-Mont-Egan Elementary School District (elementary district) | 147 | $14,088 | ≈22% | ≈37% | — |
| Ulm Elementary School District (elementary district) | 144 | $9,646 | ≈32% | ≈32% | — |
| Circle Elementary School District (elementary district) | 143 | $12,392 | ≈52% | ≈52% | — |
| Arlee High School District (high school district) | 140 | $14,193 | ≈5% | ≈15% | ≈75% |
| Rocky Boy High School District (high school district) | 140 | $18,071 | ≈10% | ≈10% | ≈55% |
| Terry K-12 Schools | 140 | $15,907 | ≈42% | ≈37% | — |
| Conrad High School District (high school district) | 138 | $15,659 | ≈10% | ≈50% | ≈75% |
| Dutton/Brady K-12 Schools | 134 | $20,418 | ≈37% | ≈47% | — |
| Whitehall High School District (high school district) | 130 | $13,731 | ≈30% | ≈50% | ≈95% |
| Winifred K-12 Schools | 130 | $16,838 | ≈65% | ≈65% | — |
| Joliet High School District (high school district) | 129 | $15,101 | ≈10% | ≈50% | ≈95% |
| Sunburst K-12 Schools | 128 | $23,602 | ≈57% | ≈57% | ≈90% |
| Troy High School District (high school district) | 127 | $17,079 | ≈10% | ≈30% | ≈90% |
| Broadus Elementary School District (elementary district) | 123 | $20,341 | ≈32% | ≈42% | — |
| North Star Elementary School District (elementary district) | 123 | $15,301 | ≈42% | ≈47% | — |
| Fairfield High School District (high school district) | 121 | $19,355 | ≈70% | ≈90% | ≈90% |
| Fairview High School District (high school district) | 120 | $20,058 | ≈65% | ≈45% | ≈90% |
| Hobson K-12 Schools | 119 | $18,076 | ≈45% | ≈75% | — |
| Broadview Elementary School District (elementary district) | 117 | $13,393 | ≈62% | ≈67% | — |
| Frontier Elementary School District (elementary district) | 117 | $21,915 | ≈27% | ≈47% | — |
| Creston Elementary School District (elementary district) | 116 | $9,181 | ≈75% | ≈75% | — |
| Highwood K-12 | 116 | $16,931 | ≈72% | ≈72% | — |
| Chinook High School District (high school district) | 114 | $18,044 | ≈10% | ≈30% | ≈90% |
| DeSmet Elementary School District (elementary district) | 114 | $18,614 | ≈27% | ≈42% | — |
| Fromberg K-12 | 114 | $22,228 | ≈17% | ≈37% | — |
| Box Elder High School District (high school district) | 113 | $21,504 | ≈10% | ≈30% | ≈70% |
| Absarokee Elementary School District (elementary district) | 112 | $17,393 | ≈32% | ≈42% | — |
| Shelby High School District (high school district) | 112 | $24,964 | ≈25% | ≈55% | ≈90% |
| Simms High School District (high school district) | 112 | $17,143 | ≈30% | ≈30% | ≈90% |
| Jordan Elementary School District (elementary district) | 111 | $12,441 | ≈42% | ≈67% | — |
| Valier Elementary School District (elementary district) | 110 | $13,391 | ≈32% | ≈32% | — |
| Nashua K-12 Schools | 109 | $19,083 | ≈32% | ≈47% | — |
| Roberts K-12 Schools | 109 | $20,679 | ≈25% | ≈35% | — |
| Choteau High School District (high school district) | 107 | $18,486 | ≈45% | ≈45% | ≈85% |
| Custer K-12 Schools | 107 | $19,402 | ≈35% | ≈35% | — |
| Noxon Elementary School District (elementary district) | 107 | $18,832 | ≈22% | ≈37% | — |
| Drummond Elementary School District (elementary district) | 105 | $14,314 | ≈55% | ≈75% | — |
| Park City High School District (high school district) | 102 | $14,627 | ≈30% | ≈50% | ≈90% |
| Brockton Elementary School District (elementary district) | 101 | $24,693 | ≈3% | ≈3% | — |
| Plevna K-12 Schools | 101 | $27,327 | ≈35% | ≈45% | — |
| Stanford K-12 Schools | 100 | $22,410 | ≈27% | ≈37% | — |
| Olney-Bissell Elementary School District (elementary district) | 99 | $12,677 | ≈35% | ≈65% | — |
| Potomac Elementary School District (elementary district) | 98 | $17,592 | ≈42% | ≈52% | — |
| Harrison K-12 Schools | 95 | $19,032 | ≈65% | ≈55% | — |
| Savage Elementary School District (elementary district) | 94 | $13,660 | ≈45% | ≈65% | — |
| Fort Benton High School District (high school district) | 92 | $24,446 | ≈50% | ≈50% | ≈90% |
| Lambert Elementary School District (elementary district) | 91 | $20,198 | ≈25% | ≈35% | — |
| Ekalaka Elementary School District (elementary district) | 90 | $20,144 | ≈55% | ≈55% | — |
| Medicine Lake K-12 Schools | 90 | $29,033 | ≈45% | ≈45% | — |
| Wyola Elementary School District (elementary district) | 88 | $26,261 | ≈5% | ≈15% | — |
| Forsyth High School District (high school district) | 86 | $21,686 | ≈30% | ≈30% | ≈90% |
| Augusta Elementary School District (elementary district) | 85 | $11,565 | ≈55% | ≈65% | — |
| Dodson K-12 | 85 | $28,341 | ≈5% | ≈15% | — |
| Cascade High School District (high school district) | 84 | $18,821 | ≈50% | ≈30% | ≈90% |
| Gardiner Elementary School District (elementary district) | 84 | $16,071 | ≈62% | ≈72% | — |
| Belt High School District (high school district) | 83 | $20,578 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Power Elementary School District (elementary district) | 83 | $15,301 | ≈55% | ≈75% | — |
| Ashland Elementary School District (elementary district) | 82 | $32,512 | ≈5% | ≈5% | — |
| Lavina K-12 Schools | 81 | $21,877 | ≈30% | ≈70% | — |
| Charlo High School District (high school district) | 80 | $15,212 | ≈30% | ≈30% | ≈90% |
| Pioneer Elementary School District (elementary district) | 79 | $11,329 | ≈25% | ≈45% | — |
| Culbertson High School District (high school district) | 78 | $23,128 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Greenfield Elementary School District (elementary district) | 78 | $13,064 | ≈72% | ≈67% | — |
| Hysham K-12 Schools | 78 | $22,846 | ≈50% | ≈50% | — |
| Powder River County High School District (high school district) | 78 | $23,333 | — | — | ≈90% |
| Fortine Elementary School District (elementary district) | 75 | $14,027 | ≈25% | ≈55% | — |
| Frazer Elementary School District (elementary district) | 75 | $29,253 | ≈5% | ≈5% | — |
| Plenty Coups High School District (high school district) | 75 | $26,200 | — | — | ≈70% |
| Pryor Elementary School District (elementary district) | 71 | $27,254 | ≈5% | ≈5% | — |
| Kinsey Elementary School District (elementary district) | 69 | $8,290 | ≈35% | ≈65% | — |
| Liberty Elementary School District (elementary district) | 69 | $9,986 | ≈15% | ≈25% | — |
| Sheridan High School District (high school district) | 69 | $22,551 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Grass Range Elementary School District (elementary district) | 68 | $13,338 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Noxon High School District (high school district) | 68 | $22,353 | ≈10% | ≈30% | — |
| LaMotte Elementary School District (elementary district) | 66 | $14,152 | ≈75% | ≈75% | — |
| Circle High School District (high school district) | 64 | $25,828 | — | — | — |
| Winnett K-12 Schools | 64 | $25,031 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Centerville High School District (high school district) | 63 | $22,857 | ≈50% | ≈50% | — |
| Froid Elementary School District (elementary district) | 63 | $19,016 | ≈52% | ≈57% | — |
| Belfry K-12 Schools | 62 | $26,387 | ≈30% | ≈30% | — |
| Drummond High School District (high school district) | 61 | $17,115 | — | — | ≈90% |
| Rau Elementary School District (elementary district) | 61 | $13,639 | ≈70% | ≈70% | — |
| Arrowhead Elementary School District (elementary district) | 60 | $19,600 | ≈25% | ≈55% | — |
| Chester-Joplin-Inverness High School District (high school district) | 60 | $26,067 | — | — | ≈90% |
| Upper West Shore Elementary School District (elementary district) | 60 | $12,383 | ≈35% | ≈55% | — |
| Dixon Elementary School District (elementary district) | 59 | $22,407 | ≈50% | ≈50% | — |
| Lima K-12 Schools | 59 | $26,322 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Absarokee High School District (high school district) | 58 | $26,672 | ≈10% | ≈50% | ≈70% |
| East Glacier Park Elementary School District (elementary district) | 58 | $20,931 | ≈10% | ≈10% | — |
| West Glacier Elementary School District (elementary district) | 58 | $14,172 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Ryegate K-12 Schools | 56 | $27,536 | ≈10% | ≈10% | — |
| Trout Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 56 | $23,929 | ≈45% | ≈45% | — |
| Moore Elementary School District (elementary district) | 55 | $17,018 | ≈25% | ≈35% | — |
| Kircher Elementary School District (elementary district) | 54 | $8,944 | ≈30% | ≈30% | — |
| Shields Valley High School District (high school district) | 53 | $26,453 | — | — | — |
| Westby K-12 Schools | 53 | $32,132 | ≈45% | ≈45% | — |
| Richey Elementary School District (elementary district) | 52 | $18,019 | ≈30% | ≈70% | — |
| Garfield County High School District (high school district) | 51 | $24,529 | — | — | — |
| Lustre Elementary School District (elementary district) | 50 | $11,100 | ≈55% | ≈55% | — |
| Gardiner High School District (high school district) | 48 | $31,438 | ≈30% | ≈50% | ≈90% |
| Geraldine K-12 | 48 | $33,958 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| North Star High School District (high school district) | 48 | $28,812 | — | — | — |
| Golden Ridge Elementary School District (elementary district) | 45 | $11,311 | ≈50% | ≈30% | — |
| Opheim K-12 Schools | 45 | $30,467 | — | — | — |
| Pine Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 44 | $10,841 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Rosebud K-12 | 44 | $30,068 | — | — | — |
| Broadview High School District (high school district) | 43 | $24,023 | — | — | — |
| Brockton High School District (high school district) | 43 | $36,558 | — | — | — |
| Melstone Elementary School District (elementary district) | 43 | $18,279 | ≈45% | ≈45% | — |
| Vida Elementary School District (elementary district) | 43 | $11,116 | — | — | — |
| Whitewater K-12 Schools | 43 | $37,233 | ≈30% | ≈70% | — |
| Willow Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 43 | $15,791 | ≈25% | ≈35% | — |
| Woodman Elementary School District (elementary district) | 43 | $17,953 | ≈30% | ≈10% | — |
| Valier High School District (high school district) | 42 | $25,500 | — | — | — |
| Rapelje Elementary School District (elementary district) | 41 | $19,683 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Saco Elementary School District (elementary district) | 40 | $24,925 | ≈30% | ≈70% | — |
| Turner Elementary School District (elementary district) | 40 | $23,250 | ≈35% | ≈45% | — |
| Carter County High School District (high school district) | 39 | $35,385 | — | — | — |
| Reed Point Elementary School District (elementary district) | 39 | $20,846 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Geyser K-12 Schools | 38 | $45,105 | — | — | — |
| Hinsdale Elementary School District (elementary district) | 38 | $25,368 | ≈30% | ≈30% | — |
| Lambert High School District (high school district) | 38 | $40,289 | — | — | — |
| Power High School District (high school district) | 38 | $26,579 | — | — | — |
| Trinity Elementary School District (elementary district) | 37 | $13,297 | — | — | — |
| Froid High School District (high school district) | 35 | $38,914 | — | — | — |
| Cardwell Elementary School District (elementary district) | 34 | $16,235 | ≈30% | ≈70% | — |
| Swan Valley Elementary School District (elementary district) | 34 | $19,765 | ≈30% | ≈30% | — |
| Frazer High School District (high school district) | 32 | $45,781 | — | — | — |
| Melville Elementary School District (elementary district) | 32 | $9,812 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Miami Elementary School District (elementary district) | 32 | $9,312 | ≈30% | ≈50% | — |
| Valley View Elementary School District (elementary district) | 32 | $13,312 | ≈10% | ≈10% | — |
| Denton Elementary School District (elementary district) | 31 | $21,839 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Melstone High School District (high school district) | 31 | $25,000 | — | — | — |
| Trego Elementary School District (elementary district) | 31 | $14,903 | — | — | — |
| Cottonwood Elementary School District (elementary district) | 27 | $13,926 | — | — | — |
| Savage High School District (high school district) | 27 | $47,111 | — | — | — |
| Richey High School District (high school district) | 26 | $43,115 | — | — | — |
| Avon Elementary School District (elementary district) | 24 | $10,667 | — | — | — |
| Hinsdale High School District (high school district) | 24 | $30,875 | — | — | — |
| Bynum Elementary School District (elementary district) | 23 | $10,087 | ≈10% | ≈50% | — |
| Basin Elementary School District (elementary district) | 22 | $19,909 | — | — | — |
| Augusta High School District (high school district) | 21 | $43,333 | — | — | — |
| Reed Point High School District (high school district) | 21 | $35,810 | — | — | — |
| Hall Elementary School District (elementary district) | 20 | $12,600 | ≈50% | ≈90% | — |
| Roy K-12 Schools | 20 | $47,400 | — | — | — |
| Zurich Elementary School District (elementary district) | 20 | $20,900 | — | — | — |
| Elliston Elementary School District (elementary district) | 19 | $16,632 | — | — | — |
| Hawks Home Elementary School District (elementary district) | 19 | $9,842 | — | — | — |
| Judith Gap Elementary School District (elementary district) | 19 | $29,211 | — | — | — |
| McCormick Elementary School District (elementary district) | 19 | $21,000 | — | — | — |
| Reichle Elementary School District (elementary district) | 19 | $11,053 | — | — | — |
| Deer Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 18 | $15,778 | — | — | — |
| Grass Range High School District (high school district) | 18 | $40,500 | — | — | — |
| Turner High School District (high school district) | 18 | $38,833 | — | — | — |
| Cohagen Elementary School District (elementary district) | 17 | $14,176 | — | — | — |
| Dupuyer Elementary School District (elementary district) | 16 | $18,250 | — | — | — |
| Gildford Colony Elementary School District (elementary district) | 16 | $24,312 | — | — | — |
| Moore High School District (high school district) | 16 | $50,375 | — | — | — |
| Rapelje High School District (high school district) | 16 | $39,312 | — | — | — |
| Cottonwood Elementary School District (elementary district) | 15 | $13,467 | — | — | — |
| Helmville Elementary School District (elementary district) | 15 | $18,000 | — | — | — |
| Ovando Elementary School District (elementary district) | 15 | $14,333 | — | — | — |
| Saco High School District (high school district) | 15 | $43,667 | — | — | — |
| Wolf Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 15 | $17,467 | — | — | — |
| Deerfield Elementary School District (elementary district) | 14 | $11,214 | — | — | — |
| Fishtail Elementary School District (elementary district) | 14 | $23,214 | — | — | — |
| Garrison Elementary School District (elementary district) | 14 | $15,929 | — | — | — |
| Auchard Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 13 | $17,077 | — | — | — |
| Sunset Elementary School District (elementary district) | 13 | $22,615 | — | — | — |
| Alder Elementary School District (elementary district) | 12 | $24,083 | — | — | — |
| Bloomfield Elementary School District (elementary district) | 12 | $18,000 | — | — | — |
| Luther Elementary School District (elementary district) | 12 | $30,833 | ≈50% | ≈70% | — |
| Mountain View Elementary School District (elementary district) | 11 | $18,727 | — | — | — |
| Pendroy Elementary School District (elementary district) | 11 | $22,636 | — | — | — |
| Polaris Elementary School District (elementary district) | 11 | $13,545 | — | — | — |
| Willow Creek High School District (high school district) | 11 | $40,091 | — | — | — |
| Alzada Elementary School District (elementary district) | 10 | $19,100 | — | — | — |
| Bear Paw Elementary School District (elementary district) | 10 | $12,100 | — | — | — |
| Pleasant Valley Elementary School District (elementary district) | 10 | $14,300 | — | — | — |
| King Colony Elementary School District (elementary district) | 9 | $16,444 | — | — | — |
| Wisdom Elementary School District (elementary district) | 9 | $23,444 | — | — | — |
| Wise River Elementary School District (elementary district) | 9 | $20,333 | — | — | — |
| Birney Elementary School District (elementary district) | 8 | $24,500 | — | — | — |
| S Y Elementary School District (elementary district) | 8 | $14,125 | — | — | — |
| Spring Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 8 | $24,000 | — | — | — |
| Ayers Elementary School District (elementary district) | 7 | $17,714 | — | — | — |
| Benton Lake Elementary School District (elementary district) | 7 | $20,857 | — | — | — |
| Cooke City Elementary School District (elementary district) | 7 | $18,286 | — | — | — |
| Jackson Elementary School District (elementary district) | 7 | $18,714 | — | — | — |
| Malmborg Elementary School District (elementary district) | 7 | $17,429 | — | — | — |
| North Harlem Colony Elementary School District (elementary district) | 7 | $26,714 | — | — | — |
| Divide Elementary School District (elementary district) | 6 | $23,500 | — | — | — |
| Lindsay Elementary School District (elementary district) | 6 | $26,167 | — | — | — |
| Pine Grove Elementary School District (elementary district) | 6 | $21,667 | — | — | — |
| Biddle Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $22,000 | — | — | — |
| Carter Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $25,800 | — | — | — |
| Gold Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $21,600 | — | — | — |
| Knees Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $22,000 | — | — | — |
| McLeod Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $32,800 | — | — | — |
| Melrose Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $41,600 | — | — | — |
| Nye Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $28,800 | — | — | — |
| South Stacey Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $18,200 | — | — | — |
| Yaak Elementary School District (elementary district) | 5 | $44,000 | — | — | — |
| Greycliff Elementary School District (elementary district) | 4 | $41,000 | — | — | — |
| Sand Springs Elementary School District (elementary district) | 4 | $32,000 | — | — | — |
| Trail Creek Elementary School District (elementary district) | 4 | $30,750 | — | — | — |
| Grant Elementary School District (elementary district) | 3 | $39,333 | — | — | — |
| Ross Elementary School District (elementary district) | 2 | $46,000 | — | — | — |
Sources
Spending and enrollment come from the NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33) for fiscal year 2022. Proficiency and graduation rates come from EDFacts for school year 2018-19. Districts are matched to ZIP codes through the NCES EDGE geographic relationship file. Nothing on this page is estimated or modelled: a figure is read from a federal source file or it is left blank.
Questions About Montana School Spending
How much does the average Montana school district spend per student?
The middle, or median, Montana district spent $15,874 per student in fiscal year 2022, $1,331 above the national median of $14,543. The median is the better summary here: a few very small districts spend several times what a large one does, and an average would follow them. That median covers all 390 districts the state reports. Across the 383 a ZIP code can reach, which are the ones listed on this page, 148,598 students account for $2.0 billion of current spending.
Which Montana districts spend the most and least per student?
Moore High School District reports the highest figure in the table at $50,375 per student for 16 students, and Kinsey Elementary School District the lowest at $8,290 for 69 students. Enrollment is the denominator, so a small district with one building and one bus route honestly produces a high figure; read the two columns together.
Why are some Montana districts missing from this table?
Montana has 390 districts with federal finance data and 383 of them appear here. The rest are placed in no ZIP code by the federal boundary file, which is normal for charter and virtual school districts that have no attendance area, so there is no ZIP code a reader could use to find them.
Does this money follow a child who is homeschooled?
No. The figure is what the district spends on a seat in its own schools, funded from local property tax, state formula aid and federal programs. Withdrawing a child removes the child from the count rather than sending the money home. TheHomeschoolingCompany is $1,788 for one student for a school year by comparison, less for each child after the first.
Look Up Your Own District
Enter a ZIP code and the calculator returns the district that serves it, what it spends per student, how its students score, and what the same school year costs at home.
School district cost per student by ZIP codeEstimate your own homeschool budgetHomeschooling in MontanaPlans and pricing
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