The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Science. The lowest is 26% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Huntley Project Elem K-6
Huntley Project Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Worden, a small rural agricultural community in Yellowstone County, Montana. The school sits within the town itself, not on a separate campus, and is part of the Huntley Project K-12 Schools district, which also includes a junior high and high school. The town is primarily residential with an agricultural backdrop, settled partly by Volga German immigrants, and retains a quiet small-town feel. It is connected by Interstate 94 and a state highway, making Billings about a short drive west for work or services. The housing market in the area shows typical rural patterns, with modest growth and values generally below the national benchmark. No major new developments or commercial expansions have been identified, and the school district appears to be a significant local employer alongside the nearby Riverstone Health Clinic.
The student body at Huntley Project Elementary is predominantly white, with a notable share of Hispanic students and smaller numbers of Native American and multiracial students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community with a substantial share of families facing economic stress. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the records we reviewed.
In terms of academic performance, the school’s results on the Smarter Balanced assessments in math and English language arts place it in the bottom quarter among districts in Yellowstone County. Proficiency rates across tested subjects are below the median for the area. Science results, from an assessment taken by a smaller group of students (likely a single grade), are somewhat stronger but still modest. A parent looking at these numbers may want to ask the school about its approach to instruction and support in the tested grades. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or postsecondary outcome data to consider.
The locale brief describes Worden as a low-density, car-dependent community with minimal street life and a small cluster of services along Main Street. The school is integrated into that fabric, alongside a library and health clinic. No recent significant changes to the district were publicly reported in the available search, so it is not clear whether any major curriculum shifts, facility improvements, or leadership transitions have occurred. The school does not appear to offer any specialized programs or magnet options; the data we have does not list programs such as dual language, gifted, or career pathways at the elementary level.
For a family considering this school, the central trade-offs are clear. It offers a small-town, rural elementary experience with a student body that reflects the local agricultural community. The academic results are on the lower side relative to other districts in the same county, and that is worth exploring further with the school to understand what interventions or supports are in place. The community is stable but not growing quickly, and housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state, though the job market is limited locally and reliant on Billings. There is no public information on chronic absenteeism or student discipline, so those are gaps a family would need to ask about directly. Overall, this is a straightforward neighborhood school in a quiet rural setting, with academic performance that warrants attention.
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