Total enrollment
1,463
-117 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Rosebud County
Montana · Public K-12
Rosebud County is a Montana county whose public-school system spans 15 campuses and approximately 1,463 students. Median household income runs about $49,914. The level mix is 6 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Rosebud County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
15
9 districts
Enrollment
1,463
NCES CCD
Median income
$49,914
Below Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.5%
Above Montana avg
Elementary
6
765 students
Middle
5
255 students
High
4
443 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Lame Deer Elem
353 students · 9 districts in Rosebud County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Rosebud 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
20.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
10.6%
civilian labor
Median age
38
28.3% under 18
Test scores in Rosebud County
Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Forsyth Elementary School· 62.0%
- Colstrip High School· 34.5%
- Forsyth 7-8· 34.5%
- Pine Butte Elementary Sch· 32.0%
- Frank Brattin Middle Schl· 27.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Lame Deer High School· 15.0%
- Frank Brattin Middle Schl· 27.0%
- Pine Butte Elementary Sch· 32.0%
- Colstrip High School· 34.5%
- Forsyth 7-8· 34.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lame Deer School | Lame Deer | Elementary | PK-06 | 278 | · |
| Pine Butte Elementary Sch | Colstrip | Elementary | PK-05 | 217 | · |
| Lame Deer High School | Lame Deer | High | 09-12 | 170 | · |
| Forsyth Elementary School | Forsyth | Elementary | PK-06 | 159 | · |
| Colstrip High School | Colstrip | High | 09-12 | 155 | · |
| Frank Brattin Middle Schl | Colstrip | Middle | 06-08 | 119 | · |
| Forsyth High School | Forsyth | High | 09-12 | 103 | · |
| Lame Deer 7-8 | Lame Deer | Middle | 07-08 | 75 | · |
| Ashland School | Ashland | Elementary | PK-06 | 71 | · |
| Forsyth 7-8 | Forsyth | Middle | 07-08 | 33 | · |
| Rosebud School | Rosebud | Elementary | PK-06 | 30 | · |
| Rosebud 7-8 | Rosebud | Middle | 07-08 | 15 | · |
| Rosebud High School | Rosebud | High | 09-12 | 15 | · |
| Ashland 7-8 | Ashland | Middle | 07-08 | 13 | · |
| Birney School | Birney | Elementary | PK-08 | 10 | · |
Cities in Rosebud County
About Rosebud County
In Montana, Rosebud County is a thinly populated county of about 8,165 residents. 15 public schools across the county hosts about 1,463 students between them.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $49,914 a year, 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 17%. That income level is 24% meaningfully below the Montana median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Rosebud County consists of 6 elementary schools (765 students), 5 middle schools (255), and 4 high schools (443).
The largest single district in Rosebud County is Lame Deer Elem, which alone enrolls about 353 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Rosebud County has shrank 7% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 1,580 students to 1,463.
On allk12, the community for Rosebud County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Rosebud County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data