The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in Math. The lowest is 50% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Boulder School
Boulder School is a public elementary school within the Billings Elem district, serving children from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is located in the western part of Billings, Montana’s largest city and a regional hub for commerce, healthcare, and culture across the northern Plains. The school’s student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students identifying as Hispanic, two or more races, Native American, Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A modest share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school well below the district average in economic disadvantage. No data was available on the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status; a parent wanting to understand special education staffing or language support services would need to contact the school directly.
Academically, Boulder School posted above-average proficiency rates across all three tested subjects for the 2023-24 school year. The strongest result came in math, where roughly seven in ten students met state standards, while English language arts and science each saw about half of students reaching proficiency. When compared with other elementary schools across Yellowstone County, Boulder’s overall proficiency index landed in the top quartile among the districts in the comparison set. That position suggests a consistently strong academic environment relative to local peers. Because the school serves only early grades, no graduation rate is reported, and no chronic absenteeism data was available in the provided records.
The school’s setting in Billings matters for understanding the broader community. Billings functions as the primary trade and distribution center for a vast region covering much of Montana east of the Continental Divide, northern Wyoming, and parts of the Dakotas. It has experienced sustained growth since its founding and continues to draw new residents, partly due to its role as a service hub for energy development to the east and north. The city offers a range of civic and cultural anchors, including a zoo, an art museum, and nearby state parks, and it has the largest hotel and convention infrastructure in the five-state area. Home values in the school’s ZIP code are above the national median, and rents have been rising, reflecting the area’s demand pressures. For families, this means the neighborhood around Boulder School is likely stable and relatively affluent compared to other parts of the district.
No program offerings were listed in the available data, so it is not possible to comment on enrichment options such as gifted education, music, or language programs. The district brief turned up no recent major changes or strategic initiatives affecting Boulder School specifically. Parents considering this school will find a solidly performing elementary with a strong math proficiency rate and a demographic profile that includes a low poverty rate. The school fits families who prioritize academic results in a suburban or urban-adjacent setting within a growing regional city. Those looking for specific details on special education, English learner services, or extracurricular offerings should follow up with the school directly, as those areas were not covered in the records provided.
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