The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Math. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Broadwater School
Broadwater School is an elementary school in Billings, Montana, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Billings Elem district, which oversees the city’s elementary schools. As a PK-5 school, Broadwater does not have a graduation rate or senior-level data to report; the academic picture here is focused entirely on the early and middle elementary years.
The school sits in a city that functions as the primary trade, distribution, and retail hub for a vast region covering much of eastern Montana and parts of several neighboring states. Billings has a history of sustained growth, earning it the nickname “Magic City,” and it continues to be the fastest-growing city in Montana. This growth is tied to its role as a service center for regional energy development and its position as the largest retail and medical destination in a five-state area. Housing values in the area are moderate by national standards, and the local market shows a modest softening in listing prices alongside a slight increase in days on market, suggesting a market that is cooling from a hot period but remains active.
Broadwater enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a notable share of Hispanic students and a smaller but present population of American Indian or Alaska Native students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. This economic context shapes the school’s daily reality and the range of support its students may require.
Academically, Broadwater’s performance on state assessments places it in a challenging position relative to other schools in Yellowstone County. In math, the proficiency rate for students in grades three through eight is below the county median. In English language arts, the rate is similarly below that midpoint. Science results are also low. On a combined index of proficiency across tested subjects and grades, Broadwater sits in the bottom quartile among the districts in Yellowstone County for which data is available. A parent considering this school will want to discuss with the school administration what supports and interventions are in place to address these academic outcomes.
The district itself has no recent publicly reported changes or strategic initiatives that would alter the school’s trajectory. That means the school’s academic profile, and the improvement work tied to it, is likely a matter of building-level focus rather than a district-wide reform.
Broadwater is a neighborhood elementary school in a growing regional city, serving a diverse and economically challenged student population. Its role is foundational, providing the early academic experience for children who will later move on to middle and high school. For a family, the decision to enroll here turns on how well the school’s specific classroom environment and supports match their child’s needs, particularly given the academic proficiency data that suggests many students are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. The school’s strengths and challenges are both rooted in its community context, and a close look at its programming, class sizes, and intervention strategies would be a sensible next step.
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