Total enrollment
2,535
-82 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
Big Horn County
Montana · Public K-12
Montana's Big Horn County runs 16 public K-12 schools between its districts, the largest being Hardin Elem at 1,221 students. By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Big Horn County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
16
+1 (+7%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
16
9 districts
Enrollment
2,535
NCES CCD
Median income
$58,750
Below Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.9%
Above Montana avg
Elementary
8
1,157 students
Middle
4
456 students
High
3
753 students
Combined / other
1
169 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Hardin Elem
1,221 students · 9 districts in Big Horn County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Big Horn County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
17.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
13.2%
civilian labor
Median age
32
31.3% under 18
Test scores in Big Horn County
Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Hardin Intermediate· 19.0%
- Hardin Middle School· 16.0%
- Hardin High School· 7.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin High School | Hardin | High | 09-12 | 515 | · |
| Hardin Middle School | Hardin | Middle | 06-08 | 359 | · |
| Hardin Intermediate | Hardin | Elementary | 03-05 | 290 | · |
| Hardin Primary | Hardin | Elementary | PK-02 | 287 | · |
| Crow Agency School | Crow Agency | Elementary | PK-05 | 268 | · |
| Lodge Grass School | Lodge Grass | Elementary | PK-06 | 175 | · |
| Lodge Grass High School | Lodge Grass | High | 09-12 | 174 | · |
| Northern Cheyenne Tribal School | Busby | Combined | KG-12 | 169 | · |
| Plenty Coups High School | Pryor | High | 09-12 | 64 | · |
| Wyola Elementary | Wyola | Elementary | PK-06 | 62 | · |
| Arrow Creek Elem School | Pryor | Elementary | PK-06 | 55 | · |
| Lodge Grass 7-8 | Lodge Grass | Middle | 07-08 | 55 | · |
| Pryor 7-8 | Pryor | Middle | 07-08 | 21 | · |
| Wyola 7-8 | Wyola | Middle | 07-08 | 21 | · |
| Fort Smith School | Fort Smith | Elementary | PK-05 | 17 | · |
| Spring Creek School | Decker | Elementary | PK-08 | 3 | · |
Cities in Big Horn County
About Big Horn County
In Montana, Big Horn County is a sparse county of about 12,891 residents. 16 public schools across the county educates about 2,535 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $58,750, roughly 18% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 15%. That income level is 10% noticeably below the Montana median.
In terms of grade levels, Big Horn County comprises 8 elementary schools (1,157 students), 4 middle schools (456), 3 high schools (753), and 1 combined or other schools.
Hardin Elem is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,221 students across Big Horn County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 3%: 2,617 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,535 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Big Horn County added 1 school, going from 15 to 16.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Big Horn County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Big Horn County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data