The Organic Act of 1864 established the first laws regarding schools and school districts in Montana. The act decreed that sections 16 and 36 of all townships were to be set aside for use by schools. The establishment of school districts was to be governed by county superintendents. Later laws regarding Montana schools provided a more stable and supervised structure, as well as funding, for the development of school districts.

The first school in Valley County was established in 1888 and classes were held in a boxcar. In 1889 residents of the area petitioned Dawson County to create a school district, becoming district 9-1 of Dawson County. With the creation of Valley County in 1893, Henry Hedges of Saco, Montana, became the first county superintendent of schools. With the coming of homesteaders to the area, the county's population grew and, consequently, so did the number of schools. Again in the 1930s, with the construction of the Fort Peck Dam, the population and the schools grew exponentially. In later years the population diminished substantially and many of the schools closed. The Fort Peck School District was later absorbed by the Nashua School District, beginning with the 1985-1986 school year.

Valley County, which was created in 1893 from Dawson County, is one of the largest counties in Montana. It is bordered on the north by Canada and on the south by the Fort Peck Reservoir. The county seat is Glasgow. Portions of Valley County were taken to form Sheridan County (1913), Phillips County (1915), and Daniels County (1920).