Shepherd Elementary

Q: Is Shepherd Elementary a good school?

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

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:
101^st of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,628

Students who attend Shepherd Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Shepherd Middle School
High:	Shepherd High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.2

Number of students: 371

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.9%

American Indian:

4.6%

Hispanic:

1.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 35.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Shepherd Elementary ranks better than 69.6% of elementary schools in Montana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.4. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.9%), American Indian (4.6%), Hispanic (1.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 35.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Shepherd Elementary is 16.2. (See more...)

Compare Shepherd Elementary employs 22.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

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 138^th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Shepherd Elementary

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

See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Shepherd Elementary

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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
2024	341	5	0	6	17	1	1	0	371

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

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
2024	371	22.8	16.2	35.6

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

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
2024	371	22.8	16.2	35.6

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

Year	Total 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 81^st of 123 Elementary schools	Ranks 101^st of 332 Elementary schools	35.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	371	366	1.3%
African American	4	5	25%
American Indian	19	15	21.1%
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	11	7	36.4%
Pacific Islander	1	2	100%
White	335	337	0.6%
Two or More Races	0	0

Schools Near Shepherd Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				Montana State Tests Mathematics (2023)	Montana State Tests Reading (2023)	Montana State Tests Science (2023)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Montana State Tests Mathematics All Grades	Montana State Tests Reading All Grades	Montana State Tests Science All Grades	Total
Shepherd Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7842 Shepherd Road	Shepherd	59079	Yellowstone County	Shepherd Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 373-5516	371	23	16.2	35.6%	341 (91.9%)	5 (1.3%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	69.4	101^st of 332 public elementary schools	69.6%		72.1	107^th of 329 public elementary schools	67.5%	6	47.3	44.7	50.8	$8,628
Pioneer School	Public	PK, KG-8	1937 Dover Road	Billings	59105	Yellowstone County	Pioneer Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 373-5357	84	7	11.7	3.6%	68 (81.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34.4	246^th of 332 public elementary schools	25.9%		43.3	227^th of 329 public elementary schools	31.0%	19	29.4	35.3		$11,664
Independent School	Public	PK, KG-6	2907 Roundup Road	Billings	59105	Yellowstone County	Independent Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 259-8109	299	18	16.2	28.1%	250 (83.6%)	3 (1.0%)	19 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	5 (1.7%)	15 (5.0%)	56	161^st of 332 public elementary schools	51.5%		76.6	83^rd of 329 public elementary schools	74.8%	78	44.3	45.9	33.3	$9,595
Huntley Project Elementary K-6	Public	PK, KG-6	1477 Ash Street	Worden	59088	Yellowstone County	Huntley Project K-12 Schools	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 967-2540	427	27	15.6	50.6%	370 (86.7%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.3%)	2 (0.5%)	14 (3.3%)	45.8	204^th of 332 public elementary schools	38.6%		51.2	190^th of 329 public elementary schools	42.2%	14	37.8	40.3	31.5	$13,981
Beartooth School	Public	PK, KG-5	1345 Elaine Street	Billings	59105	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 281-6202	352	22	16.2	45.2%	239 (67.9%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (8.8%)	1 (0.3%)	54 (15.3%)	1 (0.3%)	25 (7.1%)	56.9	156^th of 332 public elementary schools	53.0%		43.4	225^th of 329 public elementary schools	31.6%	69	36.7	43.8	43.6	$11,630
Bitterroot School	Public	PK, KG-5	1801 Bench Blvd	Billings	59105	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 281-6205	289	17	16.7	36.3%	208 (72.0%)	1 (0.3%)	30 (10.4%)	2 (0.7%)	15 (5.2%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (11.1%)	37.3	234^th of 332 public elementary schools	29.5%		36.4	247^th of 329 public elementary schools	24.9%	13	32.3	34.2	31.4	$11,855
Bench School	Public	PK, KG-5	505 Milton Road	Billings	59105	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 281-6203	314	23	13.9	68.2%	182 (58.0%)	3 (1.0%)	34 (10.8%)	2 (0.6%)	60 (19.1%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (10.2%)	20.4	282^nd of 332 public elementary schools	15.1%		19.7	288^th of 329 public elementary schools	12.5%	6	22.1	21.4	26.1	$11,799
Sandstone School	Public	PK, KG-5	1440 Nutter Blvd	Billings	59105	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 281-6220	390	22	17.8	36.9%	272 (69.7%)	9 (2.3%)	41 (10.5%)	1 (0.3%)	36 (9.2%)	4 (1.0%)	27 (6.9%)	46.7	199^th of 332 public elementary schools	40.1%		48.6	206^th of 329 public elementary schools	37.4%	7	40.3	37.0	33.3	$11,038
Lockwood Intermediate	Public	3-5	1932 US Highway 87 E.	Billings	59101	Yellowstone County	Lockwood K-12	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 248-3239	339	26	13.2	58.4%	247 (72.9%)	3 (0.9%)	49 (14.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.5%)								(n/a)
Lockwood Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	1932 US Highway 87 E.	Billings	59101	Yellowstone County	Lockwood K-12	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 252-2776	387	28	14.0	55.6%	279 (72.1%)	1 (0.3%)	58 (15.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.5%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Shepherd Elementary

Is Shepherd Elementary a good school?

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

How many students attend Shepherd Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 371 students attended Shepherd Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Shepherd Elementary attend?

Students who attend Shepherd Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shepherd Middle School
High : Shepherd High School

What is the racial makeup of Shepherd Elementary?

Students at Shepherd Elementary are 92% White, 5% American Indian, 2% Hispanic, 1% African American.

What district is Shepherd Elementary in?

Shepherd Elementary

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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.