Best Schools in Butte, Montana
12 schools · 8 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Butte?
Use this page to compare every school in Butte by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Whittier School
Elementary · Butte Elem. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Hillcrest School
Elementary · Butte Elem. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
West Elementary School
Elementary · Butte Elem. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Butte for 2026 are Whittier School (7.0/10), Hillcrest School (6.8/10), and West Elementary School (6.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
12
8 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$219,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
12
8 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$219,200
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.6/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Butte schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Butte
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whittier School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Hillcrest School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | West Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Margaret Leary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Butte High School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Emerson School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 7 | East Middle School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Kennedy School | 4.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $56,799
- Median home value
- $219,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 27%
- Avg commute
- 16 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Butte compares
Montana rank
#57 of 103
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Montana avg (6.3)
Median household income
$57k
86% of Montana median
Schools in this city
10
Butte Elem runs 88% of Butte's public schools
Butte touches 2 districts, but Butte Elem is the one most addresses actually attend.
Butte Elem accounts for 7 of 8 public schools (88%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.6 to 7.0 — the spread is inside Butte, not a citywide average.
- Butte Elem7 public · 88%
- Butte H S1 public · 13%
About Schools in Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana is home to 12 schools, including 8 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.1 out of 10, schools in Butte show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Butte is Butte Central Catholic High School with a composite score of 7.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Butte is served by 2 school districts: Butte Elem, Butte H S. These districts collectively serve 4,221 students.
Butte's community shows 27% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $56,799. The poverty rate in the area is 16.6%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 394 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 418 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.8 | ||
| 3 | 489 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.6 | ||
| 4 | 361 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.5 | ||
| 5 | 405 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.3 | ||
| 6 | 223 students · Pre-K–6th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Silver Bow Montessori SchoolPrivate 1 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 15 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 659 students · 7th–8th | 5.1 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,272 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 113 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 372 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Butte
Butte, Montana · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$56,799
Median Home Value
$219,200
Median Rent
$811/mo
Population
34,245
College Educated
27%
Homeownership
70%
Avg Commute
16 min
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Community Profile
Butte has a median household income of $56,799. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $219,200, with a median rent of $811/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.6%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 16 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Montana
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
School Districts (2)
Other Major Cities in Montana
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Butte, Montana
How many schools are in Butte, Montana?
Butte has 12 schools, including 8 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Butte, Montana?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Butte is 6.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Butte, Montana?
The top-ranked school in Butte on MySchoolScout is Whittier School with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Butte, Montana?
The top-ranked elementary school in Butte on MySchoolScout is Whittier School with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Butte, Montana?
The top-ranked middle school in Butte on MySchoolScout is East Middle School with a composite score of 5.1/10.
What is the best high school in Butte, Montana?
The top-ranked high school in Butte on MySchoolScout is Butte High School with a composite score of 5.4/10.
How many school districts serve Butte, Montana?
Butte is served by 2 school districts: Butte Elem, Butte H S.
What is the education level in Butte, Montana?
According to Census data, 27% of adults in Butte have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Butte, Montana?
The median household income in Butte is approximately $56,799 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Butte, Montana?
Yes, Butte has 4 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Butte Central Catholic High School with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Butte, Montana?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Butte is 13.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Butte, Montana?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Montana Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.