- Enrollment
- 741
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Billings, MT
Ben Steele Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Ben Steele Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 300387001118
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ben Steele Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Montana schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Montana.
- #5 of 10
- middle schools in Billings · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- large classes for Montana
- 740
- students enrolled
Ben Steele Middle School has class sizes larger than 92% of Montana schools. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ben Steele Middle School ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Billings, MT.
School address
District: Billings Elem · Montana
NCES ID 300387001118 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Ben Steele Middle School held near 738 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 43.6 → 42.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 300387001118 · Billings, MT Middle · MID · TRAD
740 enr · 17.2:1 · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Lewis & Clark Middle School (741 students)
Ben Steele Middle School held near 738 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 43.6 → 42.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Ben Steele Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lewis & Clark
Lewis & Clark Middle School
741 students
- This school
Ben Steele Middle School
740 students
- Meadowlark Sch
Meadowlark School
691 students
- Castle Rock Mi
Castle Rock Middle School
691 students
- Will James Mid
Will James Middle School
634 students
- Medicine Crow
Medicine Crow Middle School
517 students
What this shows Ben Steele Middle School reports 740 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ben Steele Middle School compares
Ben Steele Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.2:1 | ▲ 46% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 740 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
740
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 46% above state mean
Top 92% in Montana - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
30.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,015
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,859
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 370 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
129
in-school suspensions + 44 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.6%
Hispanic or Latino 5.1%
Two or More 5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.6%
Asian 1.1%
African American 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 84.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.8, Ben Steele Middle School is more mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Billings Elem reports $12,015 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ben Steele Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis & Clark Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meadowlark School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Castle Rock Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Will James Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Medicine Crow Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ben Steele Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 691
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 691
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 517
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar middle schools in Billings
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Lewis & Clark Middle School
Standard public school
741 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Castle Rock Middle School
Standard public school
691 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Will James Middle School
Standard public school
634 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Medicine Crow Middle School
Standard public school
517 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Riverside Middle School
Standard public school
436 students 10.9:1 students per teacher
Elder Grove 7-8
Standard public school
248 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~740 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ben Steele Middle School
How many students attend Ben Steele Middle School?
Ben Steele Middle School has 740 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Billings, MT. CCD year-over-year: 747 (2022-23) → 738 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Steele Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ben Steele Middle School is 17.2:1, which is 46% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ben Steele Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Ben Steele Middle School is White at 84.6% of enrollment, in Billings, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ben Steele Middle School?
Ben Steele Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ben Steele Middle School rank among middle schools in Billings?
By Resource Investment Index, Ben Steele Middle School ranks #5 of 10 middle schools in Billings, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Billings on the city page.
What other schools are in Billings Elem?
Besides Ben Steele Middle School, Billings Elem also operates Lewis & Clark Middle School (741 students), Meadowlark School (691 students), and Castle Rock Middle School (691 students). See the Billings Elem district page for the complete list.