Shepherd Elementary

Summary:

Shepherd Elementary is a public elementary school serving 366 students in grades PK-5 in the town of Shepherd, Montana. This school stands out for its consistently strong academic performance, with students outperforming the state average on standardized tests in subjects like Mathematics, Reading, and Science.

Shepherd Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of white students (92.08%) compared to nearby schools, which have more diverse student populations. Despite this, the school has maintained a strong ranking among Montana elementary schools, placing in the top 30% for the past several years. In the 2022-2023 school year, Shepherd Elementary ranked 101 out of 332 elementary schools in the state, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 15 to 15.6 over the past three years, may contribute to its academic success.

When compared to nearby schools, Shepherd Elementary's performance stands out. For example, in the 2022-2023 school year, Shepherd Elementary's proficiency rates in Math (47.34%) and Science (50.79%) were significantly higher than those of Bench School (22.14% and 26.09%, respectively) and Bitterroot School (32.28% and 31.37%, respectively), both part of the Billings Elementary district. Additionally, Shepherd Elementary's spending per student ($8,340 in 2018-2019) is lower than some of the nearby schools, such as Lockwood Intermediate ($9,087) and Huntley Project Elementary K-6 ($9,899), suggesting the school is able to achieve strong academic results with relatively lower per-student spending.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 7842 Shepherd Road
       Shepherd, MT  59079


(406) 373-5516

District: Shepherd Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
101st of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,628 Help


Students who attend Shepherd Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Shepherd Middle School
High:    Shepherd High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.6 Help
Number of students:  366

Racial breakdown:

White:
92.1%
American Indian:
4.1%
Hispanic:
1.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  98.1% Help


 See top rated Montana elementary schools

 Compare Shepherd Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Shepherd Elementary ranks better than 69.6% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.4. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (92.1%), American Indian (4.1%), Hispanic (1.9%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Shepherd Elementary is 15.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Shepherd Elementary employs 23.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Shepherd Elementary is $8,628.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Shepherd Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Shepherd Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Shepherd Elementary 138th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Shepherd Elementary?

Rank History for Shepherd Elementary

Help
Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 59.80 95th 217 56.2%
2005 72.57 53rd 218 75.7%
2006 67.04 65th 234 72.2%
2007 63.36 84th 230 63.5%
2008 51.92 108th 194 44.3%
2009 58.57 90th 190 52.6%
2011 41.02 175th 247 29.1%
2012 48.19 161st 244 34.0%
2013 54.35 136th 246 44.7%
2016 44.65 111th 191 41.9%
2017 55.53 50th 109 54.1%
2018 38.31 77th 116 33.6%
2019 35.50 81st 123 34.1%
2021 58.98 166th 356 53.4%
2022 72.15 107th 329 67.5%
2023 69.40 101st 332 69.6%
See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Montana Office of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Shepherd Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Shepherd Elementary.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Shepherd Elementary, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Shepherd Elementary

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 450 450
1991 364 2 1 5 7 n/a n/a 0 379
1992 362 2 0 6 6 n/a n/a 0 376
1993 378 0 0 7 10 n/a n/a 0 395
1994 361 1 0 3 13 n/a n/a 0 378
1995 371 1 1 1 7 n/a n/a 0 381
1996 371 1 1 1 7 n/a n/a 0 381
1997 374 1 1 7 9 n/a n/a 0 392
1998 381 1 1 4 3 n/a n/a 0 390
1999 396 0 2 4 3 n/a n/a 0 405
2000 425 1 2 5 6 n/a n/a 0 439
2001 446 2 1 6 9 n/a n/a 0 464
2002 426 2 4 7 11 n/a n/a 0 450
2003 426 2 4 7 11 n/a n/a 0 450
2004 407 2 4 8 11 n/a n/a 0 432
2005 417 5 6 9 13 n/a n/a 0 450
2006 403 5 4 8 13 n/a n/a 0 433
2007 381 5 5 9 15 n/a n/a 0 415
2008 364 5 4 11 11 n/a n/a 0 395
2009 372 6 3 7 18 n/a n/a 0 406
2010 390 13 3 4 13 n/a n/a 0 423
2011 392 13 1 7 12 3 0 0 428
2012 369 2 2 9 26 2 0 0 410
2013 358 4 4 14 27 2 0 0 409
2014 379 6 4 12 42 1 0 0 444
2015 374 10 3 11 24 1 0 0 423
2016 376 13 2 16 25 1 0 0 433
2017 318 12 2 14 25 1 0 0 372
2018 331 7 2 16 21 1 0 0 378
2019 335 4 1 11 19 1 0 0 371
2020 341 4 1 11 18 1 0 0 376
2021 313 6 0 4 15 0 0 0 338
2022 313 5 1 4 18 1 0 0 342
2023 337 5 0 7 15 2 0 0 366

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Shepherd Elementary

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 450 23.5 19.1 17.6
1991 379 16.1 23.5 25.9
1992 376 16.4 22.9 23.9
1993 395 18.5 21.4 24.1
1994 378 18.7 20.2 20.4
1995 381 22.9 16.6 20.2
1996 381 22.9 16.6 20.2
1997 392 21.9 17.9 22.2
1998 390 23.1 16.9 23.1
1999 405 24.3 16.7 32.8
2000 439 23.8 18.4 33.5
2001 464 28.0 16.6 33
2002 450 28.5 15.8 28.2
2003 450 28.5 15.8 28.2
2004 432 29.0 14.9 31.9
2005 450 28.2 16.0 31.6
2006 433 29.7 14.6 28.4
2007 415 29.5 14.1 33
2008 395 27.8 14.2 30.9
2009 406 29.6 13.7 32.5
2010 423 30.0 14.1 38.8
2011 428 30.7 13.9 41.1
2012 410 28.7 14.2 42
2013 409 27.6 14.7 45
2014 444 27.6 16.0 38.3
2015 423 26.0 16.2 34
2016 433 29.0 14.9 36.5
2017 372 28.5 13.0 29.8
2018 378 24.4 15.4 28.8
2019 371 22.1 16.7 29.1
2020 376 22.3 16.8 98.1
2021 338 22.4 15.0 n/a
2022 342 22.3 15.3 n/a
2023 366 23.3 15.6 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Shepherd Elementary

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 450 23.5 19.1 17.6
1991 379 16.1 23.5 25.9
1992 376 16.4 22.9 23.9
1993 395 18.5 21.4 24.1
1994 378 18.7 20.2 20.4
1995 381 22.9 16.6 20.2
1996 381 22.9 16.6 20.2
1997 392 21.9 17.9 22.2
1998 390 23.1 16.9 23.1
1999 405 24.3 16.7 32.8
2000 439 23.8 18.4 33.5
2001 464 28.0 16.6 33
2002 450 28.5 15.8 28.2
2003 450 28.5 15.8 28.2
2004 432 29.0 14.9 31.9
2005 450 28.2 16.0 31.6
2006 433 29.7 14.6 28.4
2007 415 29.5 14.1 33
2008 395 27.8 14.2 30.9
2009 406 29.6 13.7 32.5
2010 423 30.0 14.1 38.8
2011 428 30.7 13.9 41.1
2012 410 28.7 14.2 42
2013 409 27.6 14.7 45
2014 444 27.6 16.0 38.3
2015 423 26.0 16.2 34
2016 433 29.0 14.9 36.5
2017 372 28.5 13.0 29.8
2018 378 24.4 15.4 28.8
2019 371 22.1 16.7 29.1
2020 376 22.3 16.8 98.1
2021 338 22.4 15.0 n/a
2022 342 22.3 15.3 n/a
2023 366 23.3 15.6 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Shepherd Elementary

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $8,340
2021 $12,853
2022 $9,407
2023 $8,628

Data source: Montana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Shepherd Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 81st of 123 Elementary schoolsRanks 101st of 332 Elementary schools
 35.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students371366
 1.3%
African American45
 25%
American Indian1915
 21.1%
Asian10
 100%
Hispanic117
 36.4%
Pacific Islander12
 100%
White335337
 0.6%
Two or More Races00


Schools Near Shepherd Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Shepherd Elementary

Shepherd Elementary ranks 101st of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Shepherd Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shepherd Middle School
High : Shepherd High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 366 students attended Shepherd Elementary.

Students at Shepherd Elementary are 92% White, 4% American Indian, 2% Hispanic, 1% African American.


Rate Shepherd Elementary!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Shepherd Elementary!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 227 milliseconds.