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Missoula County

Montana · Public K-12

Missoula County, Montana comes in at 47 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 14,099 students, with a county median household income near $75,598. That works out to 24 elementary, 16 middle, and 7 high schools.

7-year change in Missoula County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
14,099
+212 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
47
+6 (+15%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 86%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
47
14 districts
Enrollment
14,099
NCES CCD
Median income
$75,598
Above Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.8%
Below Montana avg
Elementary
24
6,253 students
Middle
16
3,470 students
High
7
4,376 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Missoula Elem
5,293 students · 14 districts in Missoula County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Missoula 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
87%
Hispanic
5%
Black
0%
Asian
2%
Two or more
7%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
83%
Hispanic
5%
Black
1%
Asian
2%
Two or more
4%
Native American
4%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
47.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.7%
civilian labor
Median age
37
18.2% under 18

Test scores in Missoula County

Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 33 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Bonner 6-8· 27.0%
  2. Big Sky High School· 37.0%
  3. Bonner School· 37.0%
  4. Lowell School· 37.0%
  5. Seeley Lake Elementary· 37.0%

See all 33 schools in Missoula County ranked by score →

All schools (47)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Sentinel High SchoolMissoulaHigh09-121,365·
Hellgate High SchoolMissoulaHigh09-121,262·
Big Sky High SchoolMissoulaHigh09-121,148·
Washington Middle SchoolMissoulaMiddle06-08669·
Porter Middle SchoolMissoulaMiddle06-08579·
Hellgate El IntermediateMissoulaMiddle04-06517·
Jeannette Rankin ElMissoulaElementaryPK-05457·
Lewis & Clark SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05429·
Hawthorne SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05417·
Frenchtown Elementary SchoolFrenchtownElementaryPK-03415·
Paxson SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05415·
Chief Charlo SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05414·
Meadow Hill Middle SchoolMissoulaMiddle06-08414·
Target Range SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-06410·
Rattlesnake Elementary SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05393·
Russell SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05375·
Frenchtown High SchoolFrenchtownHigh09-12364·
Lowell SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05354·
Hellgate Middle SchoolMissoulaMiddle07-08326·
Hellgate El Primary GradesMissoulaElementaryPK-01316·
Frenchtown 6-8FrenchtownMiddle06-08311·
Hellgate Elem Lower GradesMissoulaElementary02-03305·
Lolo ElementaryLoloElementaryPK-04293·
Franklin SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-05274·
Lolo Middle SchoolLoloMiddle05-08239·
Bonner SchoolBonnerElementaryPK-05227·
Clinton SchoolClintonElementaryPK-06175·
Frenchtown Intermediate SchoolFrenchtownElementary04-05171·
Target Range 7-8MissoulaMiddle07-08134·
Seeley Lake ElementarySeeley LakeElementaryPK-06122·
Bonner 6-8BonnerMiddle06-08100·
Missoula Connect Academy HSMissoulaHigh09-1299·
DeSmet SchoolMissoulaElementaryPK-0590·
Seeley-Swan High SchoolSeeley LakeHigh09-1285·
Missoula TEACH AcademyMissoulaElementaryPK-0584·
Potomac SchoolBonnerElementaryPK-0560·
Bronc Fast TrackFrenchtownHigh10-1253·
Clinton 7-8ClintonMiddle07-0851·
DeSmet 6-8MissoulaMiddle06-0837·
Seeley Lake 7-8Seeley LakeMiddle07-0837·
Potomac Middle SchoolBonnerMiddle06-0827·
Woodman SchoolLoloElementaryPK-0525·
Swan Valley SchoolCondonElementaryPK-0620·
Missoula Connect Academy MSMissoulaMiddle06-0819·
Sunset SchoolGreenoughElementaryPK-0812·
Woodman Middle SchoolLoloMiddle06-086·
Swan Valley 7-8CondonMiddle07-084·

Cities in Missoula County

Missoula26 schoolsFrenchtown5 schoolsBonner4 schoolsLolo4 schoolsSeeley Lake3 schoolsClinton2 schoolsCondon2 schoolsGreenough1 school

About Missoula County

In Montana, Missoula County is a middle-population county of about 120,672 residents. 47 public schools across the county educates about 14,099 students between them.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $75,598, 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 15% higher than the Montana median.

In terms of grade levels, Missoula County covers 24 elementary schools (6,253 students), 16 middle schools (3,470), and 7 high schools (4,376).

Missoula Elem is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 5,293 students across Missoula County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 13,887 students in SY 2017-18 versus 14,099 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Missoula County gained 6 schools, going from 41 to 47.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Missoula County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Missoula County?
There are 47 public K-12 schools in Missoula County, Montana, with a combined enrollment of about 14,099.
How many high schools are in Missoula County?
Missoula County, Montana has 7 public high schools, serving approximately 4,376 students.
How many middle schools are in Missoula County?
Missoula County, Montana has 16 public middle schools, serving approximately 3,470 students.
How many elementary schools are in Missoula County?
Missoula County, Montana has 24 public elementary schools, serving approximately 6,253 students.
What is the largest school district in Missoula County?
Missoula Elem is the largest school district in Missoula County, serving approximately 5,293 students. The county contains 14 school districts overall.
What is the population of Missoula County?
Missoula County, Montana has a population of approximately 120,672, with a median age of 37. About 18.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Missoula County?
Median household income in Missoula County is $75,598, above the Montana average of $65,455. About 4.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Missoula County?
Approximately 47.4% of adults 25 and older in Missoula County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Missoula County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 40.8% of students in Missoula 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 Missoula County schools?
Across Missoula County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 15.2 to 1.

Missoula County school rankings

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