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Broadwater County

Montana · Public K-12

Broadwater County's school count of 3 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 733 students inside Montana, around 10% of the county population. That works out to 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Broadwater County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
733
+50 (+7%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 90%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
3
1 districts
Enrollment
733
NCES CCD
Median income
$70,374
Above Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.3%
Below Montana avg
Elementary
1
423 students
Middle
1
114 students
High
1
196 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Townsend K-12 Schools
733 students · 1 district in Broadwater County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Broadwater 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
White
89%
Hispanic
3%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
9%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
89%
Hispanic
5%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
5%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
27.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
46
19.9% under 18

Test scores in Broadwater County

Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.

Top 3 schools (ELA)
  1. Broadwater High School· 64.5%
  2. Townsend 7-8· 47.0%
  3. Cecelia Hazelton School· 42.0%

See all 3 schools in Broadwater County ranked by score →

All schools (3)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Cecelia Hazelton SchoolTownsendElementaryPK-06423·
Broadwater High SchoolTownsendHigh09-12196·
Townsend 7-8TownsendMiddle07-08114·

Cities in Broadwater County

Townsend3 schools

About Broadwater County

Broadwater County is a low-population county of about 7,668 residents in Montana. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 733 students across 3 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $70,374, 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%. That income level is 8% meaningfully above the Montana median.

On the school-mix side, Broadwater County spans 1 elementary school (423 students), 1 middle school (114), and 1 high school (196).

Townsend K-12 Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 733 students across Broadwater County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment grew 7%: 683 students in SY 2017-18 versus 733 in SY 2024-25.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Broadwater County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Broadwater County?
Broadwater County, Montana has 3 public K-12 schools serving approximately 733 students.
How many high schools are in Broadwater County?
Broadwater County, Montana has 1 public high school, serving approximately 196 students.
How many middle schools are in Broadwater County?
Broadwater County, Montana has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 114 students.
How many elementary schools are in Broadwater County?
Broadwater County, Montana has 1 public elementary school, serving approximately 423 students.
What is the largest school district in Broadwater County?
Townsend K-12 Schools is the largest school district in Broadwater County, serving approximately 733 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of Broadwater County?
Broadwater County, Montana has a population of approximately 7,668, with a median age of 46. About 19.9% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Broadwater County?
Median household income in Broadwater County is $70,374, above the Montana average of $65,455. About 7.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Broadwater County?
Approximately 27.3% of adults 25 and older in Broadwater County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Broadwater County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 39.3% of students in Broadwater County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Montana county average of 57.4%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Broadwater County schools?
Across Broadwater County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.0 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data