| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Belt High School District | Belt | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Bozeman High School District | Bozeman | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Bozeman School District | Bozeman | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Denton High School District | Coffee Creek | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #5 | Harrison K-12 Schools | Harrison | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #6 | Highwood K-12 | Highwood | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #7 | Lambert High School District | Lambert | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #8 | North Star High School District | Gildford | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #9 | Opheim K-12 Schools | Glentana | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #10 | Rapelje High School District | Molt | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #11 | Winifred K-12 Schools | Hilger | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #12 | Big Sky School K-12 | Gallatin Gateway | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #13 | Centerville High School District | Great Falls | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #14 | Columbus High School District | Columbus | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #15 | Corvallis K-12 Schools | Corvallis | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #16 | Ennis K-12 Schools | Big Sky | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #17 | Florence-Carlton K-12 Schools | Florence | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #18 | Fort Benton High School District | Carter | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #19 | Helena High School District | Helena | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #20 | Helena School District | Helena | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #21 | Hysham K-12 Schools | Bighorn | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #22 | Lavina K-12 Schools | Lavina | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #23 | Libby K-12 Schools | Libby | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #24 | Lincoln K-12 Schools | Lincoln | 8/10 Good | 75th |
| #25 | Philipsburg K-12 Schools | Hall | 8/10 Good | 75th |
Best School Districts in Montana (2026)
This ranking covers 129 rated public school districts in Montana, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. 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 →
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.