Very Good
#186 of 603 schools in MT
Top 31% in state
Ben Steele Middle School
Middle School · Billings Elem · Billings, MT
A Billings Elem middle school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
415 North 30th Street, Billings, MT 59101
- Math 30% proficient (2022)
- Reading 51% proficient (2022)
- 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ben Steele Middle School score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 41% in 2022, across a 6-year record (2017–2022).
Show all 6 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2017-2022) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2017-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 12 test records from MT state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
18.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Ben Steele Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 10Car-Dependent
- Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,860/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Billings), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$58,165
Median home value
$243,000
Median rent
$930/mo
College educated
22.4%
Homeownership
57.8%
Poverty rate
15.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 59101; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elder Grove 7-8Enrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 6–8 | 3.1 mi | 226 | Compare → |
| Will James Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | 6–8 | 3.3 mi | 601 | Compare → |
| Yellowstone Academy 7-8Enrollment path unverified | Not rated | 7–8 | 3.7 mi | 18 | Compare → |
| Canyon Creek 6-8Enrollment path unverified | 6.8 | 6–8 | 5.0 mi | 47 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Billings Elem
- Schools in district
- 28
- Rank in district
- #7 of 28
- District spending per student
- $12,015NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ben Steele Middle School is listed in Billings Elem; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ben Steele Middle School
Ben Steele Middle School is a public middle school in Billings, MT, part of Billings Elem, serving approximately 738 students in grades 6th-8th with a 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #186 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ben Steele Middle School
What grades does Ben Steele Middle School serve?
Ben Steele Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Ben Steele Middle School?
Ben Steele Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 738 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Steele Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ben Steele Middle School is 17.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ben Steele Middle School rank in MT?
Ben Steele Middle School ranks #186 of 603 schools in MT.
What is Ben Steele Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ben Steele Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ben Steele Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ben Steele Middle School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2022).
Is Ben Steele Middle School a charter school?
No, Ben Steele Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ben Steele Middle School a Title I school?
No, Ben Steele Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ben Steele Middle School?
18.2% of students at Ben Steele Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 738
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Yellowstone County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.2%
- Phone
- (406) 601-1600
- Area population (ZIP 59101)
- 41,797
- Area average commute
- 17.7 min
- Area median age
- 36.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 59101; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2017-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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