What share of students in Montana are proficient in math?

In 2024, 32% of eighth graders in Montana public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 10th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 31% in reading, compared with 36% and 34% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Montana, United States: official figures

85.8% of public high school students in Montana graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 20th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

85.8%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

217

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

279

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$13,656

FY2024

Public school enrollment

149,291

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

36.3%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Montana rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Montana was 85.8% in 2021-22, compared with 84% in 2011-12 and 86.6% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Montana?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Montana was 76.4% for economically disadvantaged students, 76.0% for students with disabilities and 67.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Montana?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Montana was 84.0% for Black, 80.0% for Hispanic and 88.8% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Montana score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Montana averaged 217 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 12th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 222 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 38% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Montana score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Montana averaged 261 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 8th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 265 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 30% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Montana score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Montana averaged 238 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 241 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 40% scored at or above Proficient and 22% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Montana score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Montana averaged 279 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 10th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 284 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 32% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Montana spend per student?

Public school systems in Montana spent $13,656 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 13th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Montana going up?

Current spending per pupil in Montana rose from $12,018 in fiscal 2019 to $13,656 in fiscal 2024, up 13.6% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was down 0.8%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Montana spend school money on?

Of the $13,656 spent per pupil in Montana in fiscal 2024, $6,191 went on instruction and $5,162 on support services; salaries and wages came to $7,850 per pupil and employee benefits $2,439.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Montana come from?

Public school systems in Montana received $2.5 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 17.8% from the federal government, 39.0% from the state and 43.2% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Montana spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Montana was $2.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $2.1 billion was current spending and $206.79 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $1.6 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Montana?

149,291 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Montana in fall 2023, down 0.4% on fall 2019 (149,917) and up 3.6% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Montana?

Public schools in Montana had 11,036 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 13.7 pupils per teacher, joint 19th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Montana in fall 2019: 14.0).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Montana have a college degree?

36.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Montana, about 292,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.5 percentage points on 2021 (34.8%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Montana have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 12.0% of adults 25 and over in Montana had a graduate or professional degree and 9.3% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Montana did not finish high school?

94.6% of adults 25 and over in Montana had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 5.4% without one; that share is 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Montana compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Montana ranks 30 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
27	Ohio	86.2%
28	Maine	86.1%
29	Hawaii	86.0%
30	Montana	85.8%
31	New Jersey	85.2%
32	North Dakota	85.1%
33	Georgia	84.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Montana ranks 35 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
32	Maine	76.6%
33	Washington	76.5%
34	South Carolina	76.4%
35	Montana	76.4%
36	Rhode Island	75.7%
37	Vermont	75.0%
38	Arizona	73.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Montana ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
9	Mississippi	219
10	Florida	218
11	Kentucky	218
12	Montana	217
13	Pennsylvania	216
14	Ohio	216
15	Washington	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Montana ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
8	Utah	261
9	Iowa	261
10	Idaho	261
11	Montana	261
12	Ohio	260
13	Wisconsin	260
14	Minnesota	260

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Montana ranks 27 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
24	Kentucky	238
25	Idaho	238
26	Nebraska	238
27	Montana	238
28	Iowa	237
29	Kansas	237
30	Rhode Island	237

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Montana ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
8	New Hampshire	280
9	North Dakota	280
10	Ohio	279
11	Montana	279
12	Indiana	278
13	Colorado	278
14	Idaho	278

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Montana ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
8	Nebraska	32.5%
9	Illinois	32.3%
10	Ohio	32.1%
11	Montana	32.1%
12	New Hampshire	32.0%
13	Connecticut	31.9%
14	North Carolina	31.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Montana ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
37	North Dakota	38.4%
38	Ohio	38.2%
39	Pennsylvania	37.8%
40	Montana	37.8%
41	Kentucky	37.7%
42	Florida	37.6%
43	Connecticut	36.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Montana ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
36	Iowa	$14,369
37	Missouri	$14,241
38	Arkansas	$13,873
39	Montana	$13,656
40	Alabama	$13,627
41	Indiana	$13,622
42	North Carolina	$12,995

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Montana ranks 51 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
45	Wyoming	+25.9%
46	Pennsylvania	+25.1%
47	Connecticut	+23.5%
48	North Dakota	+22.1%
49	Iowa	+20.7%
50	Alaska	+14.2%
51	Montana	+13.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Montana ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
20	Rhode Island	47.1%
21	Maryland	46.5%
22	South Carolina	44.6%
23	Montana	43.2%
24	Oklahoma	41.5%
25	Utah	41.5%
26	Iowa	39.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Montana ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
30	South Dakota	13.8
31	Illinois	13.7
32	Wisconsin	13.7
33	Montana	13.7
34	Virginia	13.6
35	West Virginia	13.5
36	Pennsylvania	13.3

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Montana ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
10	Florida	+0.5%
11	Louisiana	-0.3%
12	Nebraska	-0.3%
13	Montana	-0.4%
14	Alaska	-0.6%
15	Oklahoma	-0.7%
16	Ohio	-0.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Montana ranks 23 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
20	Maine	37.1%
21	Pennsylvania	36.4%
22	Georgia	36.3%
23	Montana	36.3%
24	Kansas	36.0%
25	Delaware	36.0%
26	Florida	35.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Montana ranks 48 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
45	North Dakota	5.9%
46	Minnesota	5.8%
47	Wyoming	5.6%
48	Montana	5.4%
49	Vermont	5.3%
50	Maine	5.2%
51	New Hampshire	5.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Montana: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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