The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Boulder Elementary School
Boulder Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in the small county-seat town of Boulder, Montana. The school is the elementary arm of the Boulder Elem district, and because it ends at sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s academic results come from state testing in math, English language arts, and science for grades three through six, and they show a clear area for a parent to investigate further. On the Smarter Balanced Assessment, the share of students scoring proficient or above in math and English language arts was below the midpoint among districts in Jefferson County, and the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades placed it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in the county. Science results, from the Montana Science Assessment, were similarly modest. A parent considering Boulder Elementary will want to ask the school about its academic support strategies and how it works with students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks.
The school serves a student body that is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a small share of students identifying as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a significant portion of families in the community have lower household incomes. The school is not a charter school, and its Title I status was not reported in the available data. Information on special education and English learner populations was also not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Boulder itself is a small county-seat town situated in a mountain valley at the intersection of Interstate 15 and Montana Highway 69, roughly halfway between Helena and Butte. The town’s economy is anchored by state institutions, including the Montana Developmental Center and facilities serving troubled youth, along with county government and some tourism tied to historic hot springs and radon health mines. The population has grown modestly since the 2020 census, and the housing market reflects that steady but not rapid demand. The typical home value in the area is below the state benchmark, and the local market has seen a noticeable year-over-year increase, though it remains more affordable than the Montana average. Rents are a smaller share of income than a typical mortgage would be, which may matter for families weighing whether to buy or rent.
The school itself is a single elementary building serving the town and its immediate surroundings. Enrollment is small, with roughly a hundred and a half students across kindergarten through sixth grade, plus a pre-kindergarten program. The student body is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic population and a small share of students identifying as two or more races. A very small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students are also enrolled. The school is not a charter school, and its Title I status was not reported in the available data. Information on special education and English learner populations was also not available, so a parent should ask the school directly about those services.
The district brief turned up no recent major changes such as referendums, curriculum shifts, or property-tax developments that would affect a family’s decision. The school’s program offerings were not reported in the available data, so a parent may want to ask about enrichment, music, art, physical education, and any before- or after-school activities.
For a family considering Boulder, the housing market is more affordable than the state average, and the town offers a compact, walkable center with a library, courthouse, and nearby outdoor recreation. The school’s academic results are the main point of caution. Proficiency rates in math, English, and science are all below the midpoint for Jefferson County districts, and the school sits in the bottom quartile on overall proficiency. A parent should expect to engage actively with the school around academic progress and to ask what interventions and enrichment are available. The school’s small size and single-building structure mean that families will likely find a close-knit environment where teachers and staff know students well, but the academic data suggests that the school is still working to lift achievement across the board.
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