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Dawson County

Montana · Public K-12

Dawson County's public-school directory totals 10 campuses, with student enrollment near 1,182. Glendive Elem is the largest district. Median household income runs around $71,334. By grade band, the county runs 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Dawson County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,182
-107 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
88%
was 91%
% Hispanic
6%
was 5%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
7 districts
Enrollment
1,182
NCES CCD
Median income
$71,334
Above Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
44.5%
Below Montana avg
Elementary
6
587 students
Middle
2
255 students
High
2
340 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Glendive Elem
753 students · 7 districts in Dawson County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Dawson 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
93%
Hispanic
4%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
88%
Hispanic
6%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
2%
Native American
3%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
21.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.7%
civilian labor
Median age
43
21.4% under 18

Test scores in Dawson County

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

Top 3 schools (ELA)
  1. Dawson High School· 47.0%
  2. Lincoln School· 38.0%
  3. Washington Middle School· 32.0%

See all 3 schools in Dawson County ranked by score →

All schools (10)

NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Dawson High SchoolGlendiveHigh09-12318·
Lincoln SchoolGlendiveElementary03-05260·
Jefferson SchoolGlendiveElementaryPK-02247·
Washington Middle SchoolGlendiveMiddle06-08246·
Richey SchoolRicheyElementaryPK-0647·
Richey High SchoolRicheyHigh09-1222·
Deer Creek SchoolGlendiveElementaryPK-0818·
Richey 7-8RicheyMiddle07-089·
Bloomfield SchoolBloomfieldElementaryPK-088·
Lindsay SchoolLindsayElementaryPK-087·

Cities in Dawson County

Glendive5 schoolsRichey3 schoolsBloomfield1 schoolLindsay1 school

About Dawson County

Dawson County is a rural-scale Montana county of about 8,827 residents, home to 10 public schools and roughly 1,182 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $71,334 a year, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 3%. That income level is 9% meaningfully above the Montana median.

For a sense of the school types, Dawson County is built around 6 elementary schools (587 students), 2 middle schools (255), and 2 high schools (340).

Glendive Elem is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 753 students across Dawson County.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,182 students, fell 8% from the 1,289 reported in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for Dawson 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 public schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Montana has 10 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,182 students.
How many high schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Montana has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 340 students.
How many middle schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Montana has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 255 students.
How many elementary schools are in Dawson County?
Dawson County, Montana has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 587 students.
What is the largest school district in Dawson County?
Glendive Elem is the largest school district in Dawson County, serving approximately 753 students. The county contains 7 school districts overall.
What is the population of Dawson County?
Dawson County, Montana has a population of approximately 8,827, with a median age of 43. About 21.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Dawson County?
Median household income in Dawson County is $71,334, above the Montana average of $65,455. About 3.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Dawson County?
Approximately 21.8% of adults 25 and older in Dawson County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Dawson County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 44.5% of students in Dawson 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 Dawson County schools?
Across Dawson County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.0 to 1.

Dawson County school rankings

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