Education

Updated: February 2, 2026

Montanans have cared about education for a long time, starting back in the days of one-room schoolhouses on ranches and homesteads. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, families who lived far from towns built small schools where one teacher taught all grades together; Montana once had more than 2,000 of these schools, and today it still has more active one-room and tiny rural schools than many other states.

Today, most students attend modern elementary, middle, and high schools, but the tradition of small, close-knit schools continues in many rural communities. Montana has just over 300 public school districts and about 680 public schools, serving a little under 150,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students. On average there are about 14 students for every teacher, which means many classes are small enough that teachers can get to know students well.

Montana students generally do well compared with students in many other states. On the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)-sometimes called "the Nation's Report Card?"-Montana's 8th graders have scored above the national average in both reading and math, with about one-third of students reaching the "proficient" level or higher. High school graduation has also stayed strong: in recent years, around 86 out of every 100 students have graduated on time, slightly better than some neighboring states.

After high school, many students go on to college or training in the Montana University System, which includes public colleges and universities serving tens of thousands of students statewide. Major campuses like the University of Montana in Missoula and Montana State University in Bozeman offer programs in science, engineering, health, agriculture, and many other fields, helping students prepare for careers in Montana and beyond. All of this reflects Montana's long-standing pride in its teachers and students, and in the idea that learning matters whether you are in a city school, a tiny country classroom, or a university lab.

• Education Facts and Statistics
• Educational Institutions

Updated: February 2, 2026