The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in Science. The lowest is 0% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Heights School
Central Heights School is a public elementary school in Billings, Montana, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Billings Elem district. Publicly reported accounts describe Billings as the primary trade and distribution hub for a vast region covering much of eastern Montana and parts of neighboring states. The city has experienced sustained growth since its founding as a railroad town, earning it the nickname “Magic City,” and it remains the largest city in Montana with a strong regional economy that includes healthcare, finance, retail, and services tied to energy development to the east and north.
The school enrolls a modest number of students for an elementary school. Its student body is diverse in makeup: white students form the largest group, followed by Hispanic students and a notable share of American Indian or Alaska Native students, along with smaller numbers of students who identify as Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a range that reflects a mix of economic backgrounds. Data on the share of students with individualized education plans and English learner status was not available.
State assessment results present an incomplete picture. For math and reading, the most recent testing cycle reported no students tested, so there is no proficiency data to evaluate for those subjects. A parent may want to ask the school directly whether testing was administered and what the results showed. Science assessment data, which covers a broader grade span, shows that roughly a third of tested students scored at the proficient level or above. The school’s overall proficiency index, which combines results across tested subjects and grades, placed it in the bottom quartile among the districts in Yellowstone County that reported such data.
Because Central Heights serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Information on discipline rates, teacher staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, and course offerings was also unavailable in the data reviewed. No significant parent-relevant changes at the district level were found in publicly reported sources.
Home values in the area around the school are moderate for this part of Montana and have been rising slowly. Rents have climbed a bit faster. The housing market in Yellowstone County shows a limited supply of homes for sale relative to demand, with homes selling at a measured pace. The county-wide median listing price reflects a market that is expensive relative to national averages but typical for a growing regional hub that draws population and commerce from a wide area.
For families considering Central Heights, the school offers a small elementary setting within Billings’s public school system. The limited state assessment data makes it difficult to gauge academic performance in math and reading through publicly reported measures alone. The available science results and the comparison to other districts in Yellowstone County suggest the school faces academic challenges relative to its peers. Families who want a fuller picture of classroom instruction and student progress would benefit from visiting the school and speaking with administrators.
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