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Richland County

Montana · Public K-12

Richland County reports 15 public K-12 schools and roughly 1,845 students enrolled, per NCES, with a mix of 7 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high.

7-year change in Richland County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,845
-96 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
15
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
84%
was 85%
% Hispanic
8%
was 9%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
11,235
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
10 districts
Enrollment
1,845
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$73,084
Above Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
37.4%
Below Montana avg
Elementary
7
899 students
Middle
4
426 students
High
4
520 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Sidney Elem
879 students · 10 districts in Richland County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Richland 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
90%
Hispanic
6%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
7%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
1%
School enrollment
White
84%
Hispanic
8%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
3%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
22.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
38
24.9% under 18

Test scores in Richland County

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

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Central Elementary· 47.0%
  2. Sidney Middle School· 45.0%
  3. Fairview 6-8· 44.5%
  4. Savage School· 44.5%
  5. Fairview School· 37.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Lambert School· 15.0%
  2. Sidney High School· 27.0%
  3. Fairview School· 37.0%
  4. Fairview 6-8· 44.5%
  5. Savage School· 44.5%

See all 7 schools in Richland County ranked by score →

All schools (15)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Sidney High SchoolSidneyHigh09-12355·
Sidney Middle SchoolSidneyMiddle06-08319·
West Side ElementarySidneyElementaryPK-02288·
Central ElementarySidneyElementary03-05272·
Fairview SchoolFairviewElementaryPK-05134·
Fairview High SchoolFairviewHigh09-1292·
Rau SchoolSidneyElementaryPK-0670·
Lambert SchoolLambertElementaryPK-0666·
Savage SchoolSavageElementaryPK-0564·
Fairview 6-8FairviewMiddle06-0859·
Savage High SchoolSavageHigh09-1240·
Lambert High SchoolLambertHigh09-1233·
Savage 6-8SavageMiddle06-0829·
Lambert 7-8LambertMiddle07-0819·
Brorson SchoolSidneyElementaryPK-065·

Cities in Richland County

Sidney6 schoolsFairview3 schoolsLambert3 schoolsSavage3 schools

About Richland County

Richland County is a low-population county of about 11,235 residents in Montana. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 1,845 students across 15 schools.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $73,084 a year, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 12% above the Montana median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Richland County covers 7 elementary schools (899 students), 4 middle schools (426), and 4 high schools (520).

The largest single district in Richland County is Sidney Elem, which alone enrolls about 879 students.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Richland County has fell 5% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,941 students to 1,845.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Richland County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Richland County?
Richland County, Montana has 15 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,845 students.
How many high schools are in Richland County?
Richland County, Montana has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 520 students.
How many middle schools are in Richland County?
Richland County, Montana has 4 public middle schools, serving approximately 426 students.
How many elementary schools are in Richland County?
Richland County, Montana has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 899 students.
What is the largest school district in Richland County?
Sidney Elem is the largest school district in Richland County, serving approximately 879 students. The county contains 10 school districts overall.
What is the population of Richland County?
Richland County, Montana has a population of approximately 11,235, with a median age of 38. About 24.9% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Richland County?
Median household income in Richland County is $73,084, above the Montana average of $65,455. About 5.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Richland County?
Approximately 22.0% of adults 25 and older in Richland County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Richland County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 37.4% of students in Richland 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 Richland County schools?
Across Richland County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.9 to 1.

Richland County school rankings

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