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Below Average

#513 of 603 schools in MT

Blue Creek School

Elementary School · Blue Creek Elem · Billings, MT

An elementary school in Billings, MT where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.

3652 Blue Creek Road, Billings, MT 59101

  • Math 32% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 42% proficient (2022)
  • 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.2Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-4.49 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.8Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency32% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency42% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency37% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-7.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile40th
Resources & Environment5.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.8:1
District spending per student$10,265
Chronic Absenteeism20.3%

Students at Blue Creek School score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.

Math Proficiency32%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency42%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 8 points since 2019, to 37% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
98%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
92%
2014
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2015
Math
37%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
37%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
37%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
32%
ELA
42%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 26 test records from MT state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

32.2%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Blue Creek 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 9Car-Dependent
  • Bike 1Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,860/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Ponderosa SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.8PK–53.7 mi297Compare →
Newman SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.6PK–54.2 mi227Compare →
Elysian SchoolEnrollment path unverified8.2PK–54.3 mi286Compare →
Orchard SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.0PK–54.6 mi290Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Blue Creek Elem

Schools in district
1
Rank in district
#1 of 1
District spending per student
$10,265NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
5.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

Blue Creek School is listed in Blue Creek Elem; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Blue Creek School

Blue Creek School is a public elementary school in Billings, MT, part of Blue Creek Elem, serving approximately 177 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #513 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Blue Creek School

What grades does Blue Creek School serve?

Blue Creek School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Blue Creek School?

Blue Creek School has an enrollment of approximately 177 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Blue Creek School?

The student-teacher ratio at Blue Creek School is 14.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Blue Creek School rank in MT?

Blue Creek School ranks #513 of 603 schools in MT.

What is Blue Creek School's MySchoolScout rating?

Blue Creek School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Blue Creek School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Blue Creek School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Blue Creek School a charter school?

No, Blue Creek School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Blue Creek School a Title I school?

No, Blue Creek School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Blue Creek School?

32.2% of students at Blue Creek 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
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
177
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Yellowstone County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.3%
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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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