Total enrollment
1,321
-55 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Sanders County
Montana · Public K-12
Inside Sanders County, Montana, public K-12 schools number 16 and serve about 1,321 students out of a population of 13,285. The level mix is 6 elementary, 6 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Sanders County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
16
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Sanders County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Montana | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,321 | #23 of 29 | #2,573 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 16 | #18 of 29 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.0:1 | #6 of 29 | #298 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 91.0% | #4 of 29 | #261 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 30.4% | #10 of 29 | #1,783 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Sanders County school rankings
Residents
13,285
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
16
8 districts
Enrollment
1,321
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$57,476
Below Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
91.0%
Above Montana avg
Elementary
6
695 students
Middle
6
206 students
High
4
420 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Plains K-12
404 students · 8 districts in Sanders County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Sanders 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+
21.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.0%
civilian labor
Median age
55
17.0% under 18
Test scores in Sanders County
Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Thompson Falls High Schl· 54.5%
- Thompson Falls 7-8· 52.0%
- Plains 7-8· 47.0%
- Thompson Falls Elem Schl· 47.0%
- Plains Elementary School· 42.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Hot Springs School· 15.0%
- Noxon School· 24.5%
- Plains High School· 30.0%
- Hot Springs 7-8· 34.5%
- Noxon 7-8· 34.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson Falls Elem Schl | Thompson Falls | Elementary | PK-06 | 240 | · |
| Plains Elementary School | Plains | Elementary | PK-06 | 218 | · |
| Thompson Falls High Schl | Thompson Falls | High | 09-12 | 183 | · |
| Plains High School | Plains | High | 09-12 | 121 | · |
| Hot Springs School | Hot Springs | Elementary | PK-06 | 111 | · |
| Thompson Falls 7-8 | Thompson Falls | Middle | 07-08 | 68 | · |
| Plains 7-8 | Plains | Middle | 07-08 | 65 | · |
| Noxon School | Noxon | Elementary | PK-06 | 62 | · |
| Hot Springs High School | Hot Springs | High | 09-12 | 60 | · |
| Noxon High School | Noxon | High | 09-12 | 56 | · |
| Dixon Elementary | Dixon | Elementary | PK-06 | 32 | · |
| Trout Creek School | Trout Creek | Elementary | PK-06 | 32 | · |
| Noxon 7-8 | Noxon | Middle | 07-08 | 28 | · |
| Hot Springs 7-8 | Hot Springs | Middle | 07-08 | 26 | · |
| Dixon 7-8 | Dixon | Middle | 07-08 | 15 | · |
| Trout Creek 7-8 | Trout Creek | Middle | 07-08 | 4 | · |
Cities in Sanders County
About Sanders County
Sanders County is a rural-scale Montana county of about 13,285 residents, home to 16 public schools and roughly 1,321 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $57,476, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 10%. That income level is 12% meaningfully below the Montana median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Sanders County spans 6 elementary schools (695 students), 6 middle schools (206), and 4 high schools (420).
The largest single district in Sanders County is Plains K-12, which alone enrolls about 404 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 4%: 1,376 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,321 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Sanders County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data