The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Elysian School
Elysian School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Billings, Montana’s largest city and the primary trade hub for a wide region covering much of eastern Montana and parts of surrounding states. Families living within the Elysian Elementary School District send their children here for elementary grades before they move on to a separate middle and high school not operated by the same district. The school occupies its own building on Elysian Road on the outskirts of Billings, in a setting that sits away from the downtown core.
With an enrollment near the range common for an elementary school serving this grade span, Elysian is large enough to run classes at each grade level from kindergarten through fifth while keeping a small prekindergarten program. The student body is predominantly white, with substantially smaller shares of Hispanic students and American Indian or Alaska Native students, along with a very small number of students identifying as two or more races, Asian, or Black. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that signals a moderate share of families with lower incomes. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported.
State test results from the Smarter Balanced Assessment in English language arts and math, along with the Montana Science Assessment, provide the main picture of academic performance at this school. Across these subjects, Elysian’s overall proficiency rate places it among the top quarter of schools within Yellowstone County when measured against the range of other school districts in the county. In English language arts, a clear majority of tested students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In math, the share was somewhat lower, with just under half of students reaching that same benchmark. Science proficiency, measured in the grades where that test is given, fell close to the midpoint, with roughly half of students meeting the standard. A parent considering this school should note that while performance in English language arts is a notable strength relative to the county, math results lag behind and might warrant a conversation with the school about what support is available for students who are below proficient in that subject.
The school does not serve grades that produce a graduation rate, so none is reported. No chronic absenteeism figure was available, and no information on discipline rates, staffing ratios, or course access was included in the data provided. The district itself lacks any publicly reported recent changes such as referenda, curriculum shifts, or property tax updates, leaving a gap for parents who want to understand the district’s current direction. The locale brief notes that Billings continues to experience strong growth, earning it the nickname “Magic City” since its founding, and serves as a service hub for energy development to the east and north. Housing values in the school’s zip code run above the national median, and rents have been rising, reflecting the broader regional demand.
For a family looking at this school, the academic picture is mixed but with a clear bright spot. Elysian’s English language arts results stand out among schools in Yellowstone County, while math and science fall in a more middling range. The school’s size is typical for an elementary, and its student body is not highly diverse in racial or economic terms but does include some representation from multiple groups. The lack of reported data on special education, discipline, and staffing means a parent should plan to ask the school directly about those areas. The absence of recent district-level changes in the public record adds another layer of uncertainty. Overall, this is a school where academic strength in literacy is the main draw, and where the surrounding region’s growth and housing costs may matter as much as the school itself in a family’s decision.
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