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Powell County

Montana · Public K-12

Powell County, Montana hosts 9 public K-12 schools and around 702 students, averaging roughly 78 per campus. Deer Lodge Elem runs the largest share. By level, that breaks down as 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Powell County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
702
+12 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
8
-1 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
88%
was 88%
% Hispanic
3%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
8 districts
Enrollment
702
NCES CCD
Median income
$66,923
Above Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.7%
Below Montana avg
Elementary
7
433 students
Middle
1
88 students
High
1
181 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Deer Lodge Elem
425 students · 8 districts in Powell County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Powell 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
3%
Black
0%
Asian
2%
Two or more
5%
Native American
5%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
88%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
7%
Native American
n/r
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
19.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
1.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
46
13.3% under 18

Test scores in Powell County

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

Top 3 schools (ELA)
  1. E F Duvall 7-8· 47.0%
  2. O D Speer School· 47.0%
  3. Powell County High School· 34.5%

See all 3 schools in Powell County ranked by score →

All schools (9)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
O D Speer SchoolDeer LodgeElementaryPK-06337·
Powell County High SchoolDeer LodgeHigh09-12181·
E F Duvall 7-8Deer LodgeMiddle07-0888·
Avon SchoolAvonElementaryPK-0826·
Ovando SchoolOvandoElementaryPK-0821·
Elliston SchoolEllistonElementaryPK-0819·
Garrison SchoolGarrisonElementaryPK-0617·
Helmville SchoolHelmvilleElementaryPK-0813·
Gold Creek SchoolGold CreekElementaryM-M··

Cities in Powell County

Deer Lodge3 schoolsAvon1 schoolElliston1 schoolGarrison1 schoolGold Creek1 schoolHelmville1 schoolOvando1 school

About Powell County

Powell County is a low-population county of about 7,053 residents in Montana. Its public-school system educates approximately 702 students across 9 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $66,923, roughly 19% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 2%.

Looking at the level breakdown, Powell County comprises 7 elementary schools (433 students), 1 middle school (88), and 1 high school (181).

Deer Lodge Elem is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 425 students across Powell County.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 702 students, stayed largely flat from the 690 reported in SY 2017-18. Powell County now counts 8 public schools, down from 9 in SY 2017-18.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Powell County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Powell County?
Powell County, Montana has 9 public K-12 schools serving approximately 702 students.
How many high schools are in Powell County?
Powell County, Montana has 1 public high school, serving approximately 181 students.
How many middle schools are in Powell County?
Powell County, Montana has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 88 students.
How many elementary schools are in Powell County?
Powell County, Montana has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 433 students.
What is the largest school district in Powell County?
Deer Lodge Elem is the largest school district in Powell County, serving approximately 425 students. The county contains 8 school districts overall.
What is the population of Powell County?
Powell County, Montana has a population of approximately 7,053, with a median age of 46. About 13.3% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Powell County?
Median household income in Powell County is $66,923, above the Montana average of $65,455. About 1.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Powell County?
Approximately 19.3% of adults 25 and older in Powell County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Powell County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 55.7% of students in Powell 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 Powell County schools?
Across Powell County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.6 to 1.

Powell County school rankings

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