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Silver Bow County

Montana · Public K-12

Across Silver Bow County, 12 public K-12 schools educate around 4,364 students, roughly 1 in 8 residents. The level mix runs 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high.

7-year change in Silver Bow County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
4,364
+10 (+0%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
11
-1 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
85%
was 88%
% Hispanic
8%
was 6%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
12
5 districts
Enrollment
4,364
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,754
Below Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
90.7%
Above Montana avg
Elementary
9
2,392 students
Middle
2
706 students
High
1
1,266 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Butte Elem
2,929 students · 5 districts in Silver Bow County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Silver Bow 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
91%
Hispanic
5%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
6%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
85%
Hispanic
8%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
28.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
41
20.2% under 18

Test scores in Silver Bow County

Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Hillcrest School· 57.0%
  2. Butte High School· 50.0%
  3. Whittier School· 49.0%
  4. East Middle School· 44.0%
  5. Margaret Leary School· 43.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Emerson School· 31.0%
  2. Kennedy School· 37.0%
  3. Ramsay School· 37.0%
  4. West Elementary School· 40.0%
  5. Margaret Leary School· 43.0%

See all 9 schools in Silver Bow County ranked by score →

All schools (12)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Butte High SchoolButteHigh09-121,266·
East Middle SchoolButteMiddle07-08664·
West Elementary SchoolButteElementaryPK-06503·
Hillcrest SchoolButteElementaryPK-06412·
Emerson SchoolButteElementaryPK-06389·
Whittier SchoolButteElementaryPK-06383·
Margaret Leary SchoolButteElementaryPK-06359·
Kennedy SchoolButteElementaryPK-06219·
Ramsay SchoolRamsayElementaryPK-05116·
Ramsay Middle SchoolRamsayMiddle06-0842·
Divide SchoolDivideElementaryPK-0811·
Melrose SchoolMelroseElementaryM-M··

Cities in Silver Bow County

Butte8 schoolsRamsay2 schoolsDivide1 schoolMelrose1 school

About Silver Bow County

Silver Bow County is a low-population Montana county of about 35,785 residents, home to 12 public schools and roughly 4,364 students.

For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $61,754, 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 6% meaningfully below the Montana median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Silver Bow County covers 9 elementary schools (2,392 students), 2 middle schools (706), and 1 high school (1,266).

Butte Elem is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,929 students across Silver Bow County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 4,354 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,364 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 12 to 11 across the same 7-year window.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Silver Bow County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Silver Bow County?
There are 12 public K-12 schools in Silver Bow County, Montana, with a combined enrollment of about 4,364.
How many high schools are in Silver Bow County?
Silver Bow County, Montana has 1 public high school, serving approximately 1,266 students.
How many middle schools are in Silver Bow County?
Silver Bow County, Montana has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 706 students.
How many elementary schools are in Silver Bow County?
Silver Bow County, Montana has 9 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,392 students.
What is the largest school district in Silver Bow County?
Butte Elem is the largest school district in Silver Bow County, serving approximately 2,929 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
What is the population of Silver Bow County?
Silver Bow County, Montana has a population of approximately 35,785, with a median age of 41. About 20.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Silver Bow County?
Median household income in Silver Bow County is $61,754, below the Montana average of $65,455. About 7.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Silver Bow County?
Approximately 28.0% of adults 25 and older in Silver Bow County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Silver Bow County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 90.7% of students in Silver Bow County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Montana county average of 57.4%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Silver Bow County schools?
Across Silver Bow County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.1 to 1.

Silver Bow County school rankings

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