Yellowstone Academy 7-8

Summary:

Yellowstone Academy 7-8 is a public middle school located in Billings, Montana, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 34 students. Despite its diverse student population, the school consistently underperforms academically, ranking in the bottom quartile of Montana middle schools with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Yellowstone Academy 7-8 has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Native American (14.71%) and Hispanic (8.82%) students. However, this diversity does not translate into academic success, as the school struggles with low proficiency rates in both Mathematics (5%) and Reading (15%), significantly below the state averages. The school's high spending per student, at $58,145 in the 2018-2019 school year, does not appear to be resulting in better outcomes for the students.

In contrast, nearby schools like Elysian Middle School and Canyon Creek 7-8 demonstrate that high-performing middle schools are possible in the Billings area, suggesting that the challenges faced by Yellowstone Academy 7-8 may be specific to the school and its management rather than the broader educational landscape. The school's low academic performance, low ranking, and high spending per student raise questions about the efficient use of resources and the effectiveness of the school's educational programs.

Detail:

Public 7-8

1750 Ray of Hope Lane
Billings, MT 59106

(406) 656-2198

District: Yellowstone Academy Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
177^th of 187 Montana Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $126,387

Students who attend Yellowstone Academy 7-8 usually attend:

High:

Billings West High School

Feeder schools for Yellowstone Academy 7-8:

Elementary:

Yellowstone Academy Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 2.5

Number of students: 34

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.6%

American Indian:

14.7%

Hispanic:

8.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 96.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Yellowstone Academy 7-8 ranks worse than 94.7% of middle schools in Montana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.72. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (70.6%), American Indian (14.7%), Hispanic (8.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Yellowstone Academy 7-8 is 2.5. (See more...)

Compare Yellowstone Academy 7-8 employs 13.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Yellowstone Academy 7-8 is $126,387.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Yellowstone Academy 7-8 was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Yellowstone Academy 7-8 177^th of 187 Montana public middle schools. (See Yellowstone Academy 7-8 in the ranking list.)

Yellowstone Academy Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Yellowstone Academy Elementary 289^th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Yellowstone Academy 7-8

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MT State Percentile
2021	5.00	190^th	200	5.0%
2022	13.29	169^th	190	11.1%
2023	4.72	177^th	187	5.3%

See the entire list of Montana Middle 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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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Yellowstone Academy 7-8

Compare

Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2016	9	1	1	1	1	13
2017	14	0	0	0	2	16
2018	15	0	1	2	1	19
2019	10	0	3	0	2	15
2020	23	0	1	5	2	31
2021	16	0	1	8	3	28
2022	26	1	2	3	4	36
2023	24	1	3	5	1	34

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 Yellowstone Academy 7-8

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	13	4.0	3.2	0
2017	16	4.0	4.0	56.3
2018	19	11.0	1.7	68.4
2019	15	10.4	1.4	100
2020	31	11.2	2.7	96.8
2021	28	10.9	2.5	n/a
2022	36	10.8	3.3	n/a
2023	34	13.4	2.5	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 Yellowstone Academy 7-8

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	13	4.0	3.2	0
2017	16	4.0	4.0	56.3
2018	19	11.0	1.7	68.4
2019	15	10.4	1.4	100
2020	31	11.2	2.7	96.8
2021	28	10.9	2.5	n/a
2022	36	10.8	3.3	n/a
2023	34	13.4	2.5	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 Yellowstone Academy 7-8

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$58,145
2021	$45,987
2022	$111,386
2023	$126,386

Data source: Montana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Yellowstone Academy 7-8

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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	15	34	126.7%
African American	0	1
American Indian	0	5
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	3	3
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	10	24	140%
Two or More Races	2	1	50%

Schools Near Yellowstone Academy 7-8

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
Yellowstone Academy 7-8	Public	7-8	1750 Ray of Hope Lane	Billings	59106	Yellowstone County	Yellowstone Academy Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 656-2198	34	13	2.5		24 (70.6%)	1 (2.9%)	3 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)	4.7	177^th of 187 public middle schools	5.3%		13.3	169^th of 190 public middle schools	11.1%	8	5.0	15.0		$126,387
Elder Grove 7-8	Public	6-8	1532 South 64 Street W	Billings	59106	Yellowstone County	Elder Grove Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 656-2893	231	13	17.7		195 (84.4%)	2 (0.9%)	10 (4.3%)	4 (1.7%)	7 (3.0%)	3 (1.3%)	10 (4.3%)	33.2	137^th of 187 public middle schools	26.7%		55	90^th of 190 public middle schools	52.6%	47	26.6	39.3	26.4	$10,006
Canyon Creek 6-8	Public	6-8	3139 Duck Creek Road	Billings	59101	Yellowstone County	Canyon Creek Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 656-4471	46	5	9.9		37 (80.4%)	1 (2.2%)	4 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.7%)	65.1	60^th of 187 public middle schools	67.9%		60.8	74^th of 190 public middle schools	61.1%	14	29.6	52.3	57.1	$17,487
Ben Steele Middle School	Public	6-8	5640 Grand Avenue	Billings	59106	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 601-1600	747	44	17.1		630 (84.3%)	5 (0.7%)	33 (4.4%)	10 (1.3%)	23 (3.1%)	1 (0.1%)	45 (6.0%)	69.4	52^nd of 187 public middle schools	72.2%		58.6	78^th of 190 public middle schools	58.9%	26	45.8	49.0	47.1	$11,075
Laurel Middle School	Public	5-8	725 Washington Avenue	Laurel	59044	Yellowstone County	Laurel Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 628-6919	573	35	16.4		505 (88.1%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.5%)	2 (0.3%)	11 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.1%)	36	131^st of 187 public middle schools	29.9%		30.8	140^th of 190 public middle schools	26.3%	9	25.6	35.4	34.8	$11,455
Elysian Middle School	Public	6-8	6416 Elysian Road	Billings	59101	Yellowstone County	Elysian Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 656-4101	144	9	16.0		115 (79.9%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.3%)	1 (0.7%)	13 (9.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.2%)	72.8	43^rd of 187 public middle schools	77.0%		86.5	20^th of 190 public middle schools	89.5%	23	47.0	56.0	44.0	$10,791
Will James Middle School	Public	6-8	1200 30th Street West	Billings	59102	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 281-6100	598	37	16.0		437 (73.1%)	10 (1.7%)	56 (9.4%)	4 (0.7%)	46 (7.7%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (7.4%)	35.7	133^rd of 187 public middle schools	28.9%		45.8	117^th of 190 public middle schools	38.4%	16	26.7	40.3	28.9	$11,397
Lewis & Clark Middle School	Public	6-8	1315 Lewis Avenue	Billings	59101	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 281-5900	667	46	14.4		484 (72.6%)	5 (0.7%)	56 (8.4%)	5 (0.7%)	57 (8.5%)	3 (0.4%)	57 (8.5%)	42	115^th of 187 public middle schools	38.5%		41	127^th of 190 public middle schools	33.2%	12	24.3	38.7	40.6	$11,750
Riverside Middle School	Public	6-8	3700 Madison Avenue	Billings	59101	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 281-6000	492	41	12.0		285 (57.9%)	10 (2.0%)	79 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (15.0%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (8.7%)	9.9	168^th of 187 public middle schools	10.2%		16.2	162^nd of 190 public middle schools	14.7%	6	15.5	21.0	10.7	$13,736
Castle Rock Middle School	Public	6-8	1441 Governors Blvd	Billings	59105	Yellowstone County	Billings Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 281-5800	703	39	17.9		572 (81.4%)	5 (0.7%)	43 (6.1%)	2 (0.3%)	27 (3.8%)	2 (0.3%)	52 (7.4%)	55.7	81^st of 187 public middle schools	56.7%		48.4	113^th of 190 public middle schools	40.5%	32	38.3	43.9	40.3	$10,786

Frequently Asked Questions about Yellowstone Academy 7-8

What high school do graduates of Yellowstone Academy 7-8 attend?

Students who attend Yellowstone Academy 7-8 usually go on to attend Billings West High School

How many students attend Yellowstone Academy 7-8?

In the 2022-23 school year, 34 students attended Yellowstone Academy 7-8.

What is the racial makeup of Yellowstone Academy 7-8?

Students at Yellowstone Academy 7-8 are 71% White, 15% American Indian, 9% Hispanic, 3% African American, 3% Two or more races.

Is Yellowstone Academy 7-8 a good school?

Yellowstone Academy 7-8 ranks in the bottom 5.3% of Montana middle schools.

What district is Yellowstone Academy 7-8 in?

Yellowstone Academy 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.