The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Riverside Middle School
Riverside Middle School serves grades six through eight in Billings, Montana, as part of the Billings Elementary School District. The school is located on Madison Avenue in a city that functions as the primary trade and distribution hub for a vast region spanning much of eastern Montana, northern Wyoming, and parts of the Dakotas. Billings has experienced sustained rapid growth since its railroad founding, earning the nickname "Magic City," and continues to be the fastest-growing city in Montana. Its economic trajectory is tied to its role as a regional service center for healthcare, finance, retail, and energy development, including the Bakken oil field to the east.
Riverside enrolls students in a traditional middle school grade band, with the largest cohort in eighth grade. The student body is diverse relative to many Montana schools. Around half of the students are white, while the largest minority group is American Indian or Alaska Native, comprising a substantial share of enrollment. Hispanic students also make up a meaningful portion of the population, and there are smaller numbers of students who identify as two or more races, Black, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. More than two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that indicates a high concentration of economic need.
On the most recent state assessments, Riverside's proficiency rates are very low compared to other schools in the county. The school falls in the bottom quartile of an index that averages proficiency across tested subjects and grades among districts in Yellowstone County. In English language arts, roughly one in five students scored proficient or above. In math, the proficiency rate is lower, and in science it is also below a quarter. These results are based on the Smarter Balanced Assessment for math and ELA and the Montana Science Assessment. A parent evaluating the school should consider these performance levels closely and may want to ask the school what steps it is taking to raise achievement.
Riverside does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and the data does not include information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing ratios. This is not unusual for a middle school, but it means a family cannot gauge those aspects of the school environment from the available figures.
A note on the school's context: the district brief found little to report on recent district-level changes of lasting impact. The locale brief describes Billings as having strong civic anchors, including ZooMontana, the Yellowstone Art Museum, and the Moss Mansion, with the Yellowstone River and the sandstone formations known as "the Rims" defining the landscape. No specific information about walkability, public transit, or major employers was available from the data, so those factors are not addressed here.
For families, Riverside is a school where state test results are a significant concern. The school serves a student population with high economic need and above-average racial diversity for the region. The broader Billings area is growing and functions as a regional economic and cultural center, but the housing market reflects that growth: home values and rents are above the national median, and the county has seen a decline in active listings and an uptick in days on market, making it a competitive market for buyers. A parent considering Riverside should weigh the academic performance data heavily and seek direct information from the school about its improvement strategies and support for students.
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