The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Elder Grove 7-8
Elder Grove 7-8 is a middle school in Billings, Montana, serving grades six through eight. It sits within the Elder Grove Elem district, a public school system that covers a portion of the Billings area. The school itself is a focused, single-building campus for the middle grades, and it draws its student body from the surrounding suburban and semi-rural parts of Yellowstone County.
The student population is small for a middle school, and the demographic profile is predominantly white, with a relatively low share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school does not have charter or magnet status, and it operates as a traditional public middle school within its district.
On state assessments, the school’s performance is below the midpoint of the county’s school districts. In math, roughly a third of students met the proficiency benchmark, while in English language arts, the rate was somewhat higher, though still below the county median. Science results were lower than either of those subjects. When compared to other districts in Yellowstone County, Elder Grove 7-8’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. This is a clear soft spot. A parent looking at this school would want to ask what academic supports are in place and whether the school has a trajectory of improvement. The data available does not include multi-year trends, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent a stable pattern or a recent dip.
There is no graduation rate because the school does not serve high school grades. Similarly, chronic absenteeism data and discipline records were not reported, so the picture of student engagement and school climate is incomplete. The school’s website and district communications were not included in the available information, so specific programs, extracurriculars, or instructional approaches are not covered here.
The housing market in the area around the school reflects a mix of stability and modest softening. Home values are relatively high compared to national norms, and rents have been trending upward. The broader Billings economy is a regional hub for trade, healthcare, and services, and the city has seen sustained growth, though the immediate neighborhood around Elder Grove 7-8 is less urban than downtown Billings. The school’s location on the west side of the city places it in a more suburban, lower-density setting.
The district itself has not reported any recent major changes, and the school’s leadership and staffing details are not part of the data. That means a family considering this school would need to visit and talk to the administration to get a sense of day-to-day operations, teacher turnover, and the school’s academic direction.
Elder Grove 7-8 fits a family looking for a small, traditional middle school in a stable suburban pocket of the Billings area. The student body is not highly diverse, and the socioeconomic makeup is relatively advantaged compared to the county average. The academic results, however, are below what the county’s median district produces, and that is the main question a prospective parent should investigate. Without trend data, it is hard to tell whether this is a school that is working to improve or one that has plateaued. The school’s size and setting could be a draw for families who want a close-knit environment, but the academic performance gap is a factor worth exploring directly with the school.
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