- Enrollment
- 741
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Billings, MT
Highland School
Federal NCES profile for Highland School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 300387000071
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Montana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Montana schools.
- #14 of 30
- schools in Billings · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Montana
- 249
- students enrolled
Highland School has class sizes larger than 81% of Montana schools. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland School ranks #14 of 30 schools in Billings, MT.
School address
District: Billings Elem · Montana
NCES ID 300387000071 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Highland School held near 271 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 16.9 → 17.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 300387000071 · Billings, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
249 enr · 15.6:1 · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Lewis & Clark Middle School (741 students)
Highland School held near 271 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 16.9 → 17.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Highland School 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 249
Highland School
249 students
What this shows Highland School reports 249 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland School compares
Highland 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 | 15.6:1 | ▲ 32% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 249 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
249
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 81% in Montana - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.6%
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
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.2%
Two or More 8.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.0%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: White at 71.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.3, Highland 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 Highland School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis & Clark Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ben Steele Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Meadowlark School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Castle Rock Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Will James Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland School'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 (~249 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland School
How many students attend Highland School?
Highland School has 249 students enrolled. It is a public school in Billings, MT. CCD year-over-year: 269 (2022-23) → 271 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland School is 15.6:1, which is 32% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland School?
The largest demographic group at Highland School is White at 71.5% of enrollment, in Billings, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland School?
Highland School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Highland School rank among schools in Billings?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland School ranks #14 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 Highland School, 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.