Total enrollment
681
+39 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
Toole County
Montana · Public K-12
Public education in Toole County reaches 681 students across 11 schools. Shelby Elem is the largest district at 413 students. The level mix is 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Toole County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
-1 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
77%
was 84%
% Hispanic
9%
was 4%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
5 districts
Enrollment
681
NCES CCD
Median income
$57,731
Below Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.3%
Above Montana avg
Elementary
5
363 students
Middle
2
135 students
High
2
183 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Shelby Elem
413 students · 5 districts in Toole County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Toole 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+
22.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
38
21.1% under 18
Test scores in Toole County
Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Sunburst Elementary· 54.5%
- Shelby Elementary School· 52.0%
- Shelby 6-8· 44.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby Elementary School | Shelby | Elementary | PK-05 | 262 | · |
| Shelby High School | Shelby | High | 09-12 | 143 | · |
| Shelby 6-8 | Shelby | Middle | 06-08 | 109 | · |
| Sunburst Elementary | Sunburst | Elementary | PK-08 | 57 | · |
| Sunburst High School | Sunburst | High | 09-12 | 40 | · |
| Cam Rose School | Shelby | Elementary | PK-08 | 28 | · |
| Sunburst 7 - 8 | Sunburst | Middle | 07-08 | 26 | · |
| Big Rose Colony School | Shelby | Elementary | PK-08 | 14 | · |
| Galata School | Galata | Elementary | PK-08 | 2 | · |
| Hillside Colony School | Sunburst | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| Rimrock Colony School | Sunburst | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Toole County
About Toole County
Toole County is a sparse Montana county of about 5,061 residents, home to 11 public schools and roughly 681 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $57,731, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 12% noticeably below the Montana median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Toole County is made up of 5 elementary schools (363 students), 2 middle schools (135), 2 high schools (183), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Toole County is Shelby Elem, which alone enrolls about 413 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment expanded 6%: 642 students in SY 2017-18 versus 681 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Toole County closed 1 school, going from 10 to 9. Demographically, the White share of enrollment contracted from 84% to 77%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Toole County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Toole County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data