Best High Schools in Montana (2025-26)

Ranked high schools

136

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked high school in Montana, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

Montana rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

Montana high schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	Sunburst High School	Sunburst	Sunburst K-12 Schools	75%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	40
#2	A+	Bozeman High School	Bozeman	Bozeman H S	62%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,280
#3	A+	Lone Peak High School	Gallatin Gateway	Big Sky School K-12	60%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	118
#4	A+	Chester Joplin Inverness HS	Chester	Chester-Joplin-Inverness HS	58%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	65
#5	A+	Gardiner High School	Gardiner	Gardiner H S	58%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	56
#6	A+	Manhattan H S	Manhattan	Manhattan High School	52%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	239
#7	A+	Baker High School	Baker	Baker K-12 Schools	47%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	128
#8	A+	Belt High School	Belt	Belt H S	47%	49%	Meets Expectations	91
#9	A+	Hellgate High School	Missoula	Missoula H S	44%	45%	Meets Expectations	1,304
#10	A	Helena High School	Helena	Helena H S	44%	48%	Meets Expectations	1,087
#11	A	Broadwater High School	Townsend	Townsend K-12 Schools	43%	33%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	185
#12	A	Gallatin High School	Bozeman	Bozeman H S	43%	46%	Meets Expectations	1,351
#13	A	Sentinel High School	Missoula	Missoula H S	43%	42%	Exceeds Expectations	1,378
#14	A	Whitefish High School	Whitefish	Whitefish H S	43%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	581
#15	A-	Absarokee High School	Absarokee	Absarokee H S	42%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	71
#16	A-	Alberton High School	Alberton	Alberton K-12 Schools	42%	25%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	43
#17	A-	Bainville High School	Bainville	Bainville K-12 Schools	42%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	47
#18	A-	Bridger High School	Bridger	Bridger K-12 Schools	42%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	56
#19	A-	Broadview High School	Broadview	Broadview H S	42%	23%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	56
#20	A-	Custer High School	Custer	Custer K-12 Schools	42%	60%	Underperforms Expectations	36
#21	A-	Garfield Co Dist HS	Jordan	Garfield County H S	42%	43%	Meets Expectations	55
#22	A-	Hobson High School	Hobson	Hobson K-12 Schools	42%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	41
#23	A-	Power High School	Power	Power H S	42%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	37
#24	A-	Sheridan High School	Sheridan	Sheridan H S	42%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	60
#25	A-	Shields Valley High Schl	Clyde Park	Shields Valley H S	42%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	50
#26	A-	Whitehall High School	Whitehall	Whitehall H S	42%	25%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	144
#27	A-	Billings West High School	Billings	Billings H S	41%	41%	Meets Expectations	2,269
#28	A-	Capital High School	Helena	Helena H S	41%	46%	Meets Expectations	1,427
#29	A-	Glacier High School	Kalispell	Flathead H S	41%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,475
#30	B+	Columbus High School	Columbus	Columbus H S	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	244
#31	B+	Fairfield High School	Fairfield	Fairfield H S	40%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	116
#32	B+	Fort Benton High School	Fort Benton	Fort Benton H S	40%	33%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	107
#33	B+	Belgrade High School	Belgrade	Belgrade H S	38%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	994
#34	B+	Hamilton High School	Hamilton	Hamilton K-12 Schools	38%	43%	Meets Expectations	558
#35	B+	Park High School	Livingston	Park H S	38%	38%	Meets Expectations	418
#36	B+	Beaverhead Co High School	Dillon	Beaverhead County H S	37%	50%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	339
#37	B+	Red Lodge High School	Red Lodge	Red Lodge H S	37%	38%	Meets Expectations	176
#38	B+	Three Forks High School	Three Forks	Three Forks H S	37%	32%	Exceeds Expectations	278
#39	B+	Frenchtown High School	Frenchtown	Frenchtown K-12 Schools	35%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	475
#40	B+	Stevensville High School	Stevensville	Stevensville H S	35%	37%	Meets Expectations	349
#41	B	Butte High School	Butte	Butte H S	34%	37%	Meets Expectations	1,317
#42	B	C M Russell High School	Great Falls	Great Falls H S	34%	32%	Exceeds Expectations	1,454
#43	B	Twin Bridges High School	Twin Bridges	Twin Bridges K-12 Schools	34%	32%	Exceeds Expectations	63
#44	B	Corvallis High School	Corvallis	Corvallis K-12 Schools	33%	37%	Meets Expectations	480
#45	B	Flathead High School	Kalispell	Flathead H S	33%	31%	Exceeds Expectations	1,626
#46	B	Jefferson High School	Boulder	Jefferson H S	33%	42%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	284
#47	B	Skyview High School	Billings	Billings H S	32%	40%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,602
#48	B	Billings SR High School	Billings	Billings H S	31%	34%	Meets Expectations	1,739
#49	B-	Bigfork High School	Bigfork	Bigfork H S	30%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	354
#50	B-	Charlo High School	Charlo	Charlo H S	30%	20%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	83
#51	B-	Florence Carlton HS	Florence	Florence-Carlton K-12 Schls	30%	30%	Meets Expectations	258
#52	B-	Thompson Falls High Schl	Thompson Falls	Thompson Falls H S	30%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	201
#53	B-	Dawson High School	Glendive	Dawson H S	28%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	343
#54	B-	Libby High School	Libby	Libby K-12 Schools	28%	31%	Meets Expectations	356
#55	B-	Polson High School	Polson	Polson H S	28%	35%	Meets Expectations	524
#56	B-	Conrad High School	Conrad	Conrad H S	27%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	153
#57	B-	Ennis High School	Ennis	Ennis K-12 Schools	27%	35%	Meets Expectations	121
#58	B-	Havre High School	Havre	Havre H S	27%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	531
#59	B-	Joliet High School	Joliet	Joliet H S	27%	30%	Meets Expectations	139
#60	B-	Shelby High School	Shelby	Shelby H S	27%	24%	Exceeds Expectations	120
#61	B-	Big Sky High School	Missoula	Missoula H S	26%	28%	Meets Expectations	1,186
#62	C+	Great Falls High School	Great Falls	Great Falls H S	26%	28%	Meets Expectations	1,641
#63	C-	Big Sandy High School	Big Sandy	Big Sandy K-12	25%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	63
#64	C-	Brockton High School	Brockton	Brockton H S	25%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	52
#65	C-	Carter County High School	Ekalaka	Carter County H S	25%	31%	Meets Expectations	43
#66	C-	Cascade High School	Cascade	Cascade H S	25%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	101
#67	C-	Centerville High School	Sand Coulee	Centerville H S	25%	25%	Meets Expectations	69
#68	C-	Circle High School	Circle	Circle H S	25%	30%	Meets Expectations	65
#69	C-	Columbia Falls High Schl	Columbia Falls	Columbia Falls H S	25%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	687
#70	C-	Dodson High School	Dodson	Dodson K-12	25%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	31
#71	C-	Drummond High School	Drummond	Drummond H S	25%	19%	Exceeds Expectations	63
#72	C-	Forsyth High School	Forsyth	Forsyth H S	25%	29%	Meets Expectations	99
#73	C-	Frazer High School	Frazer	Frazer H S	25%	21%	Exceeds Expectations	31
#74	C-	Fromberg High School	Fromberg	Fromberg K-12	25%	25%	Exceeds Expectations	33
#75	C-	Harlowton High School	Harlowton	Harlowton K-12	25%	31%	Meets Expectations	69
#76	C-	Hays Lodge Pole High Sch	Hays	Hays-Lodge Pole K-12 Schls	25%	14%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	84
#77	C-	Heart Butte High School	Heart Butte	Heart Butte K-12 Schools	25%	18%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	74
#78	C-	Hot Springs High School	Hot Springs	Hot Springs K-12	25%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	46
#79	C-	Lambert High School	Lambert	Lambert H S	25%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	43
#80	C-	Laurel High School	Laurel	Laurel H S	25%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	619
#81	C-	Lincoln High School	Lincoln	Lincoln K-12 Schools	25%	30%	Meets Expectations	42
#82	C-	Melstone High School	Melstone	Melstone H S	25%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	33
#83	C-	Nashua High School	Nashua	Nashua K-12 Schools	25%	29%	Meets Expectations	34
#84	C-	North Star High School	Rudyard	North Star HS	25%	39%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	53
#85	C-	Plenty Coups High School	Pryor	Plenty Coups H S	25%	17%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	58
#86	C-	Powder River Co Dist High	Broadus	Powder River Co Dist H S	25%	21%	Exceeds Expectations	74
#87	C-	Roberts High School	Roberts	Roberts K-12 Schools	25%	26%	Meets Expectations	43
#88	C-	St Regis High School	St Regis	St Regis K-12 Schools	25%	31%	Meets Expectations	55
#89	C-	Two Eagle River School	Pablo		25%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	145
#90	C-	Valier High School	Valier	Valier H S	25%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	46
#91	C-	Wibaux High School	Wibaux	Wibaux K-12 Schools	25%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	32
#92	C-	Winifred High School	Winifred	Winifred K-12 Schools	25%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	44
#93	D+	Choteau High School	Choteau		24%	28%	Meets Expectations	103
#94	D+	Glasgow High School	Glasgow	Glasgow K-12 Schools	24%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	234
#95	D+	Granite High School	Philipsburg	Philipsburg K-12 Schools	24%	24%	Meets Expectations	62
#96	D+	Lincoln Co High School	Eureka	Lincoln County H S	23%	29%	Meets Expectations	306
#97	D+	Plentywood High School	Plentywood	Plentywood K-12 Schools	23%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	114
#98	D+	Shepherd High School	Shepherd	Shepherd H S	23%	26%	Meets Expectations	253
#99	D+	Roundup H S	Roundup	Roundup High School	22%	19%	Exceeds Expectations	172
#100	D+	Fairview High School	Fairview	Fairview H S	21%	28%	Meets Expectations	116
#101	D+	Seeley Swan High School	Seeley Lake	Missoula H S	21%	23%	Meets Expectations	98
#102	D+	Sweet Grass Co High Schl	Big Timber	Sweet Grass County H S	21%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	161
#103	D+	Troy High School	Troy	Troy H S	21%	24%	Meets Expectations	128
#104	D	Colstrip High School	Colstrip	Colstrip H S	20%	26%	Meets Expectations	151
#105	D	Custer Co District High	Miles City	Custer County H S	20%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	495
#106	D	Fergus High School	Lewistown	Fergus H S	20%	39%	Underperforms Expectations	356
#107	D	Huntley Project High Schl	Worden	Huntley Project K-12 Schools	20%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	230
#108	D	Sidney High School	Sidney	Sidney H S	20%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	387
#109	D	White Sulphur Springs HS	White Sulphur Springs	White Sulphur Spgs K-12	20%	24%	Meets Expectations	56
#110	D	Anaconda SR High School	Anaconda	Anaconda H S	18%	25%	Meets Expectations	281
#111	D	Culbertson High School	Culbertson	Culbertson H S	17%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	94
#112	D	Noxon High School	Noxon	Noxon H S	17%	22%	Meets Expectations	67
#113	D	Powell County High School	Deer Lodge	Powell County H S	17%	23%	Meets Expectations	186
#114	D	Ronan High School	Ronan	Ronan H S	17%	23%	Meets Expectations	416
#115	D-	Box Elder High School	Box Elder	Box Elder H S	14%	12%	Exceeds Expectations	108
#116	D-	Chinook High School	Chinook	Chinook H S	14%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	114
#117	D-	Cut Bank High School	Cut Bank	Cut Bank H S	14%	23%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	227
#118	D-	Malta High School	Malta	Malta K-12 Schools	14%	25%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	143
#119	D-	Park City High School	Park City	Park City H S	14%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	102
#120	D-	Plains High School	Plains	Plains K-12	14%	23%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	138
#121	D-	Scobey High School	Scobey	Scobey K-12 Schools	14%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	82
#122	D-	Superior High School	Superior	Superior K-12 Schools	14%	21%	Meets Expectations	112
#123	D-	West Yellowstone HS	West Yellowstone	West Yellowstone K-12	14%	29%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	81
#124	D-	Wolf Point High School	Wolf Point	Wolf Point H S	12%	18%	Meets Expectations	225
#125	F	Arlee High School	Arlee	Arlee H S	10%	16%	Meets Expectations	145
#126	F	Darby High School	Darby	Darby K-12 Schools	10%	22%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	107
#127	F	Lodge Grass High School	Lodge Grass	Lodge Grass H S	10%	13%	Meets Expectations	172
#128	F	Rocky Boy High School	Box Elder	Rocky Boy H S	10%	13%	Meets Expectations	148
#129	F	Simms High School	Simms	Simms H S	10%	27%	Underperforms Expectations	101
#130	F	St Ignatius High School	St Ignatius	St Ignatius K-12 Schools	10%	16%	Meets Expectations	141
#131	F	Victor High School	Victor	Victor K-12 Schools	10%	21%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	75
#132	F	Lame Deer High School	Lame Deer	Lame Deer H S	7%	12%	Meets Expectations	169
#133	F	Browning High School	Browning	Browning H S	5%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	563
#134	F	Hardin High School	Hardin	Hardin H S	5%	15%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	512
#135	F	Harlem High School	Harlem	Harlem H S	5%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	163
#136	F	Poplar High School	Poplar	Poplar H S	5%	10%	Meets Expectations	276

How Montana's high schools compare

A: 29B: 32C: 31D: 32F: 12

45% of the 136 ranked high schools in Montana earn an A or B (29 A grades, 32 B, 31 C, 32 D, 12 F), against 50% of high schools nationwide. 96 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (71% here, 74% nationally), and 44 exceed it. On average 28% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 31% (national averages: 44% actual, 41% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Sunburst High School (75% against 38%, A+), Chester Joplin Inverness HS (58% against 37%, A+), Broadview High School (42% against 23%, A-), Lone Peak High School (60% against 43%, A+), Alberton High School (42% against 25%, A-).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 34): Missoula H S (2).

Cities with the most ranked high schools: Missoula (3, 3 at A or B), Billings (3, 3 at A or B).

The largest ranked high schools: Billings West High School (2,269 students, A-, #27), Billings SR High School (1,739 students, B, #48), Great Falls High School (1,641 students, C+, #62).

High schools in Montana that are not ranked

39 graded high schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Very small schools (5)

Schools with fewer than 30 students have grades that swing on a handful of test results.

A- Duttonbrady High School, Dutton
A+ Harrison High School, Harrison
A- Medicine Lake High School, Medicine Lake
A+ Plevna High School, Plevna
C- Winnett High School, Winnett

Not yet graded (34)

Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.

Augusta High School, Augusta
Belfry High School, Belfry
Denton High School, Denton
East Helena High School, East Helena
Froid High School, Froid
Geraldine High School, Geraldine
Geyser High School, Geyser
Grass Range High School, Grass Range
Highwood High School, Highwood
Hinsdale High School, Hinsdale
Hysham High School, Hysham
Judith Gap High School, Judith Gap
Lavina High School, Lavina
Lima High School, Lima
Lockwood High School, Lockwood
Moore High School, Moore
Mt Sch For Deaf And Blnd HS, Great Falls
Northern Cheyenne Tribal School, Busby
Opheim High School, Opheim
Pine Hills Youth Corr Facil Hs, Miles City
Rapelje High School, Rapelje
Reed Point High School, Reed Point
Richey High School, Richey
Rosebud High School, Rosebud
Roy High School, Roy
Ryegate High School, Ryegate
Saco High School, Saco
Savage High School, Savage
Stanford High School, Stanford
Terry High School, Terry
Turner High School, Turner
Westby High School, Westby
Whitewater High School, Whitewater
Willow Creek High School, Willow Creek

About this ranking

Scope: every public high school in Montana.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the high schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about high schools in Montana

What is the best high school in Montana?

Sunburst High School in Sunburst ranks first among the 136 ranked high schools in Montana with a SchoolGrade of A+, 75% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 38%.

How are high schools in Montana ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many high schools does Montana have?

SchoolGrade grades 175 public high schools in Montana; 136 are ranked here and 39 are listed as not ranked.