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Miles city 2008Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
C
Schools in Miles City · Custer County High School District, Miles City Elementary School District

Miles City’s public schools score below 74% of Montana districts on tests and graduation

23% of students in Miles City’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Montana average (35%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Miles City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Montana, not nationally.

#35of 41 Montana townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Montana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
38%
▼ 8 pts vs MT 46%
2021–22
Math proficiency
23%
▼ 12 pts vs MT 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 2–6 pts vs MT 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.1K
▼ 11% vs MT $13.6K
FY2024 · Miles City Elementary
Students per teacher
13.6
MT 13.7
Schools in town
9
1,413 students on the public path
In brief

Miles City’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 156 Montana towns with household incomes within a quarter of Miles City’s, its schools beat 19%, lower than their 26% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Miles City runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Washington Middle School 6-8 (6–8) is Miles City’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Custer County High School District with Ismay: Custer Co District High. The high school’s own results earn a C−. See the path ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 38% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 46% and 35% statewide; 99% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across Montana (the state reports Miles City’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Custer County High spends $12,589 per student and Miles City Elementary $12,091, against $13,570 across Montana (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Sacred Heart School (private), Sacred Heart Elementary School (private) and Trinity Lutheran Classical School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Miles City’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 26% of Montana school districts, #35 of 41 Montana towns. Both inputs trail the Montana average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Montana school districts we grade (241)Better than 26%
Lower resultsHigher results
Montana towns with similar household incomes (156)Better than 19%
C−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 747 test results and a graduating class of 125 could put Miles City anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Miles City’s students in the tested grades sat them (747 in math, 746 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Miles City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–23 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC−
3–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
6–8Washington Middle School 6-8Miles City Elementary School DistrictC+
9–12Custer Co District HighCuster County High School DistrictC−

Miles City runs its own schools through grade 8 (Miles City Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Custer County High School District, shared with Ismay. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Miles City

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Custer County High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 487 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 15.0 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$12,589MT $13,570 · FY2024
C
Miles City Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 5 schools · 926 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 13.0 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$12,091MT $13,570 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Custer County High School District37%
State average 45.7% · 115 students tested
Math · 9–12, Custer County High School District22%
State average 35.2% · 116 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Miles City Elementary School District38%
State average 45.7% · 631 students tested
Math · PK–8, Miles City Elementary School District23%
State average 35.2% · 631 students tested

Miles City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Montana towns that share Miles City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Miles CityCMiles City Elementary PK–8 · Custer County High 9–12

Every school in Miles City

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Montana’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Miles Cityby address
Highland Park School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
126 students13:1Rate it →
Jefferson School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
98 students11:1Rate it →
Garfield School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
210 students12:1Rate it →
Lincoln School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
C+
166 students14:1Rate it →
Washington Middle School 6-8
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
326 students14:1Rate it →
Custer Co District High
High · Grades 9–12
C−
487 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Sacred Heart School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
175 students18:1Rate it →
Sacred Heart Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
174 students18:1Rate it →
Trinity Lutheran Classical School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
82 students22:1Rate it →

Questions about Miles City’s schools

Are Miles City’s schools good?

On Montana’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Miles City children attend score below 74% of Montana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #35 of 41 Montana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 19%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Miles City in?

Two districts: Miles City Elementary School District runs grades PK–8, and Custer County High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Ismay.

Where do Miles City kids go to high school?

Custer Co District High, with 487 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Miles City’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Custer County High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Montana.

How much does Miles City spend per student?

$12,589 in Custer County High School District and $12,091 in Miles City Elementary School District (FY2024), against $13,570 across Montana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Miles City?

Yes: Sacred Heart School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 175 students), Sacred Heart Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 174 students) and Trinity Lutheran Classical School (religious, grades PK–8, 82 students).

Parents talk

What Miles City families are saying about school.

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Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Miles City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Montana. Stars are from neighbors.