Best High Schools in Montana (2025-26)
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.