The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in Science. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Broadview School
Broadview School serves a rural community in south-central Montana, a town built around wheat farming and a railroad line that once brought homesteaders through this rolling prairie. The school itself is the only one in the Broadview Elem district, covering prekindergarten through eighth grade, with a total enrollment that is small enough that every class shares the same building on the town’s main street. The grade-level distribution is uneven, with very few students in the upper middle-school years; the largest cohorts are in the early elementary grades, which means families with younger children will find a more robust peer group by sheer numbers, while families approaching seventh and eighth grade should expect a very small cohort.
On state assessments for grades three through eight, Broadview School’s overall proficiency across math, English language arts, and science falls in the top quartile when compared with other schools in Yellowstone County. That is an unusual position for a small rural school and suggests that instruction is holding its own against much larger and more resourced schools in the county. English language arts proficiency is the strongest of the three tested subjects, with a share of students meeting the state’s proficient benchmark that is well above the midpoint of its county peers. Science results, though based on a smaller tested group, also show a solid rate. Math proficiency is weaker, and while still within the top quartile overall, a parent may want to ask how the school supports students who struggle in that subject, especially given the small class sizes that could allow for targeted help.
The town of Broadview has been losing population for a long time. A historic fire destroyed roughly half its structures, many of which were never rebuilt, and the surrounding wheat country has consolidated into larger farms that require fewer workers. The housing stock is older and relatively affordable compared to the state median, but there is no sign of new development or growth. For a family considering a move, this is a place where roots run deep but where the economic base is narrow. Most working residents commute to Billings, a drive of about half an hour on a two-lane highway. Daily life is car-dependent; there is no public transit and no mention of sidewalks or pedestrian infrastructure in available sources.
The school district’s financial picture is under pressure. Publicly reported data shows that both revenue per student and spending per student have declined over a four-year period, and current spending per student is below the state median. In a district this small, financial contraction can show up quickly in the form of reduced electives, fewer support staff, or aging facilities. Families may want to ask the school directly about current program offerings, class materials, and whether specialist teachers for art, music, or physical education are still in place.
Because Broadview School ends at eighth grade, students who continue into high school must travel to a neighboring district or to Billings. That is a practical consideration for any family: the school itself provides no high school pathway, so the choice of secondary school is entirely separate. On the other hand, for a family seeking a small, close-knit elementary and middle school where the community knows every student, Broadview offers exactly that. The peer environment is overwhelmingly white, with a modest share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of a working agricultural town.
The school building sits integrated into the town core, not on a separated campus, which reinforces the sense that school and community are one and the same. The well-preserved railroad depot nearby and the grain elevators on the skyline are the landmarks a visitor notices. There are no large parks or a public library in town; the nearest full civic amenities are in Billings. For a family that values a quiet rural setting with a school that performs comparatively well on state tests for its region, and who is prepared to plan ahead for high school and long commutes, Broadview School is a grounded option. For a family looking for program breadth, rising enrollment, or easy access to urban services, it would be a harder fit.
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