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Richland county courthousePhoto: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0
B+
Schools in Sidney · Sidney Elementary School District, Sidney High School District

Sidney’s public schools outscore 65% of Montana districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Sidney, 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.

#20of 41 Montana townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Montana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
49%
▲ 3 pts vs MT 46%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▼ 0 pts vs MT 35%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 0–4 pts vs MT 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.7K
▼ 6% vs MT $13.6K
FY2024 · Sidney Elementary
Students per teacher
13.1
MT 13.7 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
1,234 students on the public path
In brief

Sidney’s schools, in brief

Sidney runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

West Side Elementary (PK–2), Central Elementary (3–5) and Sidney Middle School (6–8) are Sidney’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Sidney High School District: Sidney High School. The high school’s own results earn a D. See the path ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 35% across both districts in spring 2022, against 46% and 35% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Sidney Elementary spends $12,715 per student and Sidney High $19,825, against $13,570 across Montana (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Liberty Christian School (private) is 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 Sidney’s grade

B Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 65% of Montana school districts, #20 of 41 Montana towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Montana average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Montana school districts we grade (241)Better than 65%
Lower resultsHigher results
Montana towns with similar household incomes (158)Better than 62%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 653 test results and a graduating class of 104 could put Sidney anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Sidney’s students in the tested grades sat them (654 in math, 653 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2West Side ElementarySidney Elementary School DistrictNo scores
3–5Central ElementarySidney Elementary School DistrictB
6–8Sidney Middle SchoolSidney Elementary School DistrictC+
9–12Sidney High SchoolSidney High School DistrictD

Sidney runs its own schools through grade 8 (Sidney Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Sidney High School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Sidney

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

Sidney Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 3 schools · 879 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 13.5 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$12,715MT $13,570 · FY2024
B+
Sidney High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 355 students, down 13% since 2020–21 · 12.2 per teacher (MT 13.7)
$19,825MT $13,570 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Sidney Elementary School District50%
State average 45.7% · 561 students tested
Math · PK–8, Sidney Elementary School District37%
State average 35.2% · 561 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Sidney High School District42%
State average 45.7% · 92 students tested
Math · 9–12, Sidney High School District22%
State average 35.2% · 93 students tested

Sidney vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SidneyB+Sidney Elementary PK–8 · Sidney High 9–12

Every school in Sidney

5 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 Sidneyby address
West Side Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
288 students13:1Rate it →
Central Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–5
B
272 students14:1Rate it →
Sidney Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
319 students14:1Rate it →
Sidney High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
355 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Liberty Christian School
Grades 4–11
Private · Religious
10 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Sidney’s schools

Are Sidney’s schools good?

By Montana’s own tests, yes: the public schools Sidney children attend outscore 65% of Montana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #20 of 41 Montana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 62%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sidney in?

Two districts: Sidney Elementary School District runs grades PK–8, and Sidney High School District runs grades 9–12.

Where do Sidney kids go to high school?

Sidney High School, with 355 students; its own test results earn a D.

What is Sidney’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Sidney High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Montana.

How much does Sidney spend per student?

$12,715 in Sidney Elementary School District and $19,825 in Sidney High School District (FY2024), against $13,570 across Montana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sidney?

Yes: Liberty Christian School (religious, grades 4–11, 10 students).

Parents talk

What Sidney families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sidney → 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.