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Carbon County

Montana · Public K-12

Carbon County hosts 19 public K-12 schools. Together they educate about 1,301 Montana students across 7 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high.

7-year change in Carbon County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,301
-86 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
19
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
92%
was 92%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
19
9 districts
Enrollment
1,301
NCES CCD
Median income
$80,261
Above Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
56.5%
Below Montana avg
Elementary
7
589 students
Middle
6
274 students
High
6
438 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Red Lodge Elem
303 students · 9 districts in Carbon County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Carbon 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
91%
Hispanic
3%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
92%
Hispanic
4%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
34.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.5%
civilian labor
Median age
50
17.2% under 18

Test scores in Carbon County

Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Roberts School· 24.5%
  2. Bridger Elementary School· 34.5%
  3. Roosevelt Junior High· 37.0%
  4. Joliet Middle School· 47.0%
  5. Joliet School· 47.0%

See all 7 schools in Carbon County ranked by score →

All schools (19)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Mountain View SchoolRed LodgeElementaryPK-05192·
Joliet SchoolJolietElementaryPK-05177·
Red Lodge High SchoolRed LodgeHigh09-12176·
Joliet High SchoolJolietHigh09-12129·
Bridger Elementary SchoolBridgerElementaryPK-06114·
Roosevelt Junior HighRed LodgeMiddle06-08111·
Joliet Middle SchoolJolietMiddle06-0891·
Bridger High SchoolBridgerHigh09-1258·
Roberts High SchoolRobertsHigh09-1240·
Roberts SchoolRobertsElementaryPK-0639·
Bridger 7-8BridgerMiddle07-0831·
Fromberg SchoolFrombergElementaryPK-0531·
Belfry SchoolBelfryElementaryPK-0629·
Fromberg High SchoolFrombergHigh09-1219·
Roberts 7-8RobertsMiddle07-0818·
Fromberg Middle SchoolFrombergMiddle06-0817·
Belfry High SchoolBelfryHigh09-1216·
Luther SchoolLutherElementaryPK-087·
Belfry 7-8BelfryMiddle07-086·

Cities in Carbon County

Belfry3 schoolsBridger3 schoolsFromberg3 schoolsJoliet3 schoolsRed Lodge3 schoolsRoberts3 schoolsLuther1 school

About Carbon County

Carbon County is a sparse Montana county of about 11,116 residents, home to 19 public schools and roughly 1,301 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $80,261, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 23% noticeably above the Montana median.

In terms of grade levels, Carbon County is made up of 7 elementary schools (589 students), 6 middle schools (274), and 6 high schools (438).

The largest single district in Carbon County is Red Lodge Elem, which alone enrolls about 303 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Carbon County has decreased 6% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,387 students to 1,301.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Carbon County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Carbon County?
There are 19 public K-12 schools in Carbon County, Montana, with a combined enrollment of about 1,301.
How many high schools are in Carbon County?
Carbon County, Montana has 6 public high schools, serving approximately 438 students.
How many middle schools are in Carbon County?
Carbon County, Montana has 6 public middle schools, serving approximately 274 students.
How many elementary schools are in Carbon County?
Carbon County, Montana has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 589 students.
What is the largest school district in Carbon County?
Red Lodge Elem is the largest school district in Carbon County, serving approximately 303 students. The county contains 9 school districts overall.
How many people live in Carbon County?
Carbon County has roughly 11,116 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Carbon County?
Median household income in Carbon County is $80,261, above the Montana average of $65,455. About 5.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Carbon County?
Approximately 34.6% of adults 25 and older in Carbon County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Carbon County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 56.5% of students in Carbon 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 Carbon County schools?
Across Carbon County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.3 to 1.

Carbon County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data