Original Research by School Decision on Yellowstone Academy 7-8
Yellowstone Academy 7-8 is a small public middle school in Billings, Montana, serving only seventh and eighth grades. It is part of the Yellowstone Academy Elem district, a very small district in the state. The school sits on Ray of Hope Lane in Billings, a city that functions as the primary trade and distribution center for a vast region covering much of eastern Montana, northern Wyoming, and parts of the Dakotas. Billings was founded as a railroad town and has experienced sustained rapid growth since its founding, earning the nickname “Magic City.” It remains the largest city in Montana and continues to grow, with a strong economy tied to healthcare, finance, retail, and energy services.
The school’s enrollment is very small, among the smallest middle schools in the area. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic and Native American students, and a modest number of students who identify as two or more races. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic need within the school community. There is no publicly available data on the number of students with disabilities or English learners, so that dimension of student support is not possible to assess from the information at hand.
When it comes to academic performance, the state test results for math, English language arts, and science are all suppressed. The number of students tested is too small to report publicly, a common situation in very small schools. This means there is no proficiency data available to compare against other schools in Yellowstone County or across Montana. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. A parent looking for a clear picture of academic achievement will find the public record essentially blank for this school and will need to rely on direct conversations with the school to understand how students are performing.
The broader community context is notable. Billings is a regional hub with a strong economy and a growing population. Housing values in the area are above the national average, and rents are also above typical levels. The local housing market has seen a decrease in active listings and an increase in the time homes spend on the market, suggesting a market that is cooling but still has demand. For a family considering moving to the area, housing costs are a meaningful factor, and the city’s growth trajectory may appeal to those looking for a dynamic, expanding urban center.
The Yellowstone Academy Elem district itself is very small, and no recent changes such as referenda, curriculum shifts, or property tax changes were found in public records. The district appears to be stable but offers little publicly available information about its direction or priorities.
For a family evaluating Yellowstone Academy 7-8, the school’s most defining characteristic is its size. With very few students, it may offer a more individualized environment where staff know each student well. However, the lack of test data means that measuring academic outcomes from public sources is not possible. A parent would likely want to visit the school, speak with teachers and administrators, and ask directly about curriculum, student support, and how the school tracks progress. The surrounding community of Billings offers a range of amenities and a strong economy, but housing costs are relatively high, and the school’s small size may not suit every student’s social or academic needs.
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