Overview
In Montana, 89.2% of all K-12 students are enrolled in traditional public schools. These schools are generally free and open to students zoned in a school district regardless of academic performance or special learning needs.
Interested in considering if a public school is right for your student? We’ve put together this ultimate guide to Traditional Public Schools in Montana to answer your questions:
What to Expect
Your Assigned Public School
In Montana, every school-aged child starts out assigned by the government to a local public school based on their resident address. Local school boards govern public school district boundaries. To find out to which school your child is assigned, check out this interactive map of Montana schools and school districts created by the Office of Public Instruction.
Who can enroll in public schools?
In general, Montana children must be at least 5 years old by September 10th in order to enroll in kindergarten for that school year. It is important to begin the process of enrolling your child well in advance, so we suggest applying by March of the year you want to enroll.
In order to enroll your child, you will need:
- Proof of residency in your school district. This can be a power bill or lease with your name and address on it.
- A state-issued birth certificate for your child.
- Immunization records (unless you’ve received a medical or religious exemption). There are a number of immunizations required for kindergarten and as well as before entering 7th grade.
- a copy of your child’s IEP or 504 plan if they have one.
Court documents will also need to be submitted if you have a joint Parenting Plan, Guardianship paperwork, a Protection Order or a Letter from a Case Worker.
Kids needing an early jump start before they become eligible for general enrollment for kindergarten may be able to take advantage of the Early Literacy Targeted Interventions offered by districts. The OPI offers more information about this option on their website.
Enrollment Options
Interested in transferring your child to a different public school than the one assigned to them?
As of 2023, Montana now has inter-district enrollment policies that make it easier to transfer your child to a public school in another district. The new policies generally require a receiving district to approve a transfer request, except for certain limited circumstances like limited capacity.
Each school district will adopt policies for the transfer application process, including an application window for the next school year. Check with your district’s enrollment office to find out when the application window is open; some may be as early as January for the following school year.
Transfers to another school within the same district are a bit different. Although many of the larger districts in Montana offer intra-district open enrollment, it remains a voluntary policy completely up to district discretion to approve transfer requests.
Part-Time & Dual-Enrollment
Nonpublic students may enroll part-time in Montana public schools to take part in courses like chemistry or art to supplement their learning. Each local district creates their own policy on part-time enrollment, so check with your local enrollment office.
Montana public school students can also take advantage of Dual Enrollment opportunities to take college level courses and receive credit for both high school and college coursework. Check out the Montana University System’s One-Two-Free program.
Curriculum
The Board of Public Education specifies content standards for public school curriculum that includes at a minimum the following core subjects:
- English language and English language arts proficiency
- mathematics
- social studies
- science
- health
- arts
- health and physical fitness
- career and technical education
- computer science
- library media and information literacy
- technology integration
Beyond core subjects, your local public school may offer Advanced Placement courses, Engineering, Psychology, World Languages or Family & Consumer Sciences. Course offerings may vary greatly due to local control by each school district. Check with your local school to find more information about what they offer.
Parents’ Rights
Montana parents have a fundamental right to direct and make decisions regarding the upbringing and education of their children. According to Montana law, this includes things like:
- Withdraw your student from specific instruction or events.
- Receive information about clubs and extracurricular activities and withdraw your child from participation.
- Access and review your child’s education, medical, and health records.
- Opt your child out of sexual education, personal analysis, or data collection unless necessary for the student’s educational record.
- Choose not to use pronouns that don’t align with your child’s sex.
- Have your child excused from school for religious reasons.
- Be notified and give consent if your child would share a room with someone of the opposite sex.
- Ensure government employees do not encourage children to withhold information from their parents.
- Ensure government employees do not withhold information about a child’s physical, emotional, or mental health.
Parents Defending Education, Moms for Liberty, and Parents’ Rights in Education also have good resources on the topic of parental rights in public schools.
Learning Environments
Montana Public Schools vary in size, facility options and schedules. Montana High Schools are assigned a class by the Montana High School Association based on their enrollment numbers to govern athletic competition.
- Class AA, 801+ students
- Class A, 301-800
- Class B, 101-300
- Class C, 1-100
Some schools have shifted to a 4-day week schedule like Manhattan, Whitehall, and Glascow Public Schools, to help with teacher recruitment and retention, while other schools maintain the traditional 5-day schedule.
Public school facilities can vary by the size of the school whether they are in a rural population area or urban setting. In the larger districts you may find large auditoriums for theater, orchestra and choir performances, computer labs, vast sports complexes, and technology integration in the classroom. In smaller rural schools, they may use the Community Center for performances and offer a smaller number of sports for their students.
Sports & Extracurricular Activities
Sports and extracurriculars vary by school. Homeschoolers and private school students can engage in sports, activities, and classes at local public schools too. Check our our Homeschool Guide for more information.
Montana Digital Academy
Montana Digital Academy offers free access to virtual courses for all public school students, including Advanced Placement and specialized elective courses. Access is open to nonpublic students as well, but each local district has their own policy regarding enrollment.
How to Choose a Traditional Public School
1. Explore your options
Start by getting to know your assigned school district. Visit your district’s website to gather information about the programs they offer, including special education resources and extracurricular activities. Use tools like the School Finder to explore public schools in your area, comparing factors such as test scores, academic progress, and student-to-teacher ratios. This research will help you understand what each school has to offer and how they perform academically.
2. Connect
Reach out to the main district office to discuss enrolling your child. They can answer questions about school policies, daily schedules, bus transportation, and visitation policies. The district office will also provide you with the necessary steps and paperwork to begin the enrollment process. This is a great time to address any specific concerns or needs your child may have.
3. Apply
Follow the instructions provided by the district office to complete the enrollment application. Make sure to submit all required documents and forms. Pay attention to any deadlines to ensure your child is enrolled on time.
4. Get involved
Parental involvement is crucial for your child’s success in school. Volunteering at school events or in the classroom can make a positive impact on your child’s education. Engaging with the school community helps you stay connected and supports your child’s academic and social development. You can also join the PTA to connect with other parents and contribute to the school community. Attend school board meetings regularly to stay informed about district decisions and policies.
More Resources
Office of Public Instruction (OPI)
The OPI curates a Parent Resource page and has a Family Engagement Specialist on staff who can answer many questions you may have. The OPI’s site Just for Families provides useful information on public school curriculum and instruction. Information on Special Education and Drivers Ed is also available on their website.
Special Needs information at OPI
Think Inclusion is a great resource on including students with disabilities in schools.
Understanding School Finance
U.S. Department of Education Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will provide parents with imperative information about their rights and schools’ responsibilities.
