6.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Butte, Montana

12 schools · 9 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 8

Private: 4

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

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.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Butte Elem. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Butte for 2026 are Butte Central Catholic High School (7.5/10), Whittier School (7.0/10), and Hillcrest School (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Whittier School

Rates 7.0/10 despite 46% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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 (10 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Butte Central Catholic High School	7.5 / 10	High	—	78th
2	Whittier School	7.0 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	64th
3	Hillcrest School	6.8 / 10	Elementary	+0.8	61th
4	West Elementary School	6.6 / 10	Elementary	+0.9	56th
5	Margaret Leary School	6.5 / 10	Elementary	+0.8	54th
6	Butte Central Elementary School	5.6 / 10	Elementary	—	25th
7	Emerson School	5.2 / 10	Elementary	-0.5	28th
8	East Middle School	5.1 / 10	Middle	-0.8	26th
9	Kennedy School	4.6 / 10	Elementary	-1.1	16th
10	Butte High School	4.6 / 10	High	-1.4	16th

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: 6.0/10
Median household income: $56,799
Median home value: $219,200
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27%
Avg commute: 16 min
Owner-occupied homes: 70%

How Butte compares

Montana rank

#59 of 102

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.4

below Montana avg (6.3)

Median household income

$57k

86% of Montana median

Schools in this city

10

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 9 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Butte show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which 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 7.5/10, 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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (12) Elementary (9) Middle (1) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (12) Public (8) Private (4)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (12) Academics (8) Growth (8) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 59701 (12)

Elementary Schools

9 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Whittier School 394 students · Pre-K–6th	394	Pre-K–6th	7.0
2	Hillcrest School 418 students · Pre-K–6th	418	Pre-K–6th	6.8
3	West Elementary School 489 students · Pre-K–6th	489	Pre-K–6th	6.6
4	Margaret Leary School 361 students · Pre-K–6th	361	Pre-K–6th	6.5
5	Emerson School 405 students · Pre-K–6th	405	Pre-K–6th	5.2
6	Kennedy School 223 students · Pre-K–6th	223	Pre-K–6th	4.6
Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Butte Central Elementary School Private 233 students · Pre-K–8th	233	Pre-K–8th	5.6
2	Highland View Christian School Private 23 students · Kindergarten–7th	23	Kindergarten–7th	—
3	Silver Bow Montessori School Private 11 students · Pre-K–6th	11	Pre-K–6th	—

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	East Middle School 659 students · 7th–8th	659	7th–8th	5.1

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Butte High School 1,272 students · 9th–12th	1,272	9th–12th	4.6
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Butte Central Catholic High School Private 97 students · 9th–12th	97	9th–12th	7.5

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: 9
Middle: 1
High: 2

Resources

🔍 Google "Butte schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Butte 📊 Niche Butte Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

Butte Elem

7 schools · 2,949 students

Butte H S

1 school · 1,272 students

Nearby Cities

Whitehall (3 schools)

22 mi

Anaconda (4 schools)

23 mi

Deer Lodge (3 schools)

30 mi

Boulder (3 schools)

25 mi

Wise River (1 school)

25 mi

Twin Bridges (3 schools)

32 mi

Other Major Cities in Montana

Top metros statewide by school count.

Billings 55 schools Bozeman 36 schools Missoula 35 schools Kalispell 30 schools Great Falls 25 schools

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 rate

Frequently 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 6.0 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 Butte Central Catholic High School with a composite score of 7.5/10.

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 Central Catholic High School with a composite score of 7.5/10.

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 7.5/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Butte, Montana?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Butte is 14.0:1. 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.