2024 Best High Schools in Montana

What High School Paths Does Montana Provide?

Montana has 205 high schools, the majority of which are public, with 168 schools total. Compared to the national average of 486, Montana has 58% fewer schools and is ranked #5 in the nation for per capita schools, with it having 65% more than the average state. This means that students in Montana have many educational options, particularly in and around larger cities. As a whole, the state's average school rating is a B– which is right in line with the national average.

The bulk of the high schools in Montana are public schools, making up 82% of the total number of high schools. Of those 168 public schools, all are traditional public schools, which is 129% more than the average state per capita. That said, only 42% of those traditional public schools exceed the national average in quality, so there are only 71 such schools that are rated higher than normal. Montana is also one of the few states that don't have any charter schools, magnet schools, or online schools, so there are no alternatives to traditional public schools.

In terms of private schools, there are 34 in Montana, which is 17% of all schools (15% more than the average state). That said, the state ranks 19th in terms of most private schools per capita. The median rating of these private schools is B+, and half (50%) of them are rated above the national average. Approximately 76% of the private schools in Montana are religiously affiliated, with Christian schools making up the vast majority of them at 20. The state ranks 8th for most religious schools per capita. There are also 1 all-boys school, which is 46% lower than the typical state (after normalizing for population size). Additionally, there are two all-girls schools, which is 99% more than the average state.