Below Average
#560 of 603 schools in MT
Will James 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 28% proficient (2022)
- Reading 42% proficient (2022)
- 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Will James Middle School score 35% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 11 points since 2019, to 35% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 59% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
36.8%
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 Will James 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 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 46Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis & Clark Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | 6–8 | 2.1 mi | 727 | Compare → |
| New DayPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | 4–12 | 2.3 mi | 51 | Compare → |
| Elysian Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 130 | Compare → |
| Ben Steele Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 6–8 | 3.3 mi | 738 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Billings Elem
- Schools in district
- 28
- Rank in district
- #25 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
Will James Middle School is listed in Billings Elem; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Will James Middle School
Will James Middle School is a public middle school in Billings, MT, part of Billings Elem, serving approximately 601 students in grades 6th-8th with a 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #560 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Will James Middle School
What grades does Will James Middle School serve?
Will James Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Will James Middle School?
Will James Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 601 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Will James Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Will James Middle School is 17.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Will James Middle School rank in MT?
Will James Middle School ranks #560 of 603 schools in MT.
What is Will James Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Will James Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 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 Will James Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Will James Middle School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Will James Middle School a charter school?
No, Will James Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Will James Middle School a Title I school?
No, Will James Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Will James Middle School?
36.8% of students at Will James 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
- 601
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Yellowstone County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 38.3%
- Phone
- (406) 281-6100
- Area population (ZIP 59101)
- 41,797
- Area average commute
- 17.7 min
- Area median age
- 36.5
Official sources & links
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
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