- Enrollment
- 741
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Billings, MT
Big Sky Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Big Sky Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 300387000901
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Big Sky Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Montana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Montana schools.
- #27 of 30
- schools in Billings · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.6:1
- large classes for Montana
- 373
- students enrolled
Big Sky Elementary has class sizes larger than 96% of Montana schools. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Big Sky Elementary ranks #27 of 30 schools in Billings, MT.
School address
District: Billings Elem · Montana
NCES ID 300387000901 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Big Sky Elementary held near 341 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 20.9 → 19.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 300387000901 · Billings, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
373 enr · 18.6:1 · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Lewis & Clark Middle School (741 students)
Big Sky Elementary held near 341 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 20.9 → 19.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Big Sky Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lewis & Clark
Lewis & Clark Middle School
741 students
- Ben Steele Mid
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
- This school
Big Sky Elementary
373 students
What this shows Big Sky Elementary reports 373 students on the CCD universe file.
How Big Sky Elementary compares
Big Sky Elementary 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 58% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 373 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
373
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 58% above state mean
Top 96% in Montana - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
36.7%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 373 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.9%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 11.8%
Two or More 8.8%
African American 3.2%
Asian 1.6%
Largest group: White at 60.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.7, Big Sky Elementary 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 Big Sky Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis & Clark Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ben Steele Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Meadowlark School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Castle Rock Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Will James Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Big Sky Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 740
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- 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
Similar other schools in Billings
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Meadowlark School
Standard public school
691 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Boulder School
Standard public school
495 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Elder Grove School
Standard public school
465 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Eagle Cliffs Elementary
Standard public school
443 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Arrowhead School
Standard public school
434 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Broadwater School
Standard public school
400 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~373 students)
Frequently asked questions about Big Sky Elementary
How many students attend Big Sky Elementary?
Big Sky Elementary has 373 students enrolled. It is a public school in Billings, MT. CCD year-over-year: 328 (2022-23) → 341 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Big Sky Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Big Sky Elementary is 18.6:1, which is 58% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Big Sky Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Big Sky Elementary is White at 60.9% of enrollment, in Billings, MT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Big Sky Elementary?
Big Sky Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Big Sky Elementary rank among schools in Billings?
By Resource Investment Index, Big Sky Elementary ranks #27 of 30 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 schools in Billings on the city page.
What other schools are in Billings Elem?
Besides Big Sky Elementary, Billings Elem also operates Lewis & Clark Middle School (741 students), Ben Steele Middle School (740 students), and Meadowlark School (691 students). See the Billings Elem district page for the complete list.