Ben Steele Middle School

Ben Steele Middle School operates as a well-populated middle-grades school in Billings, Montana, overseen by Billings Elem. Current enrollment sits at 740 students spanning grades 6 through 8. Compared to the state average of about 139 students per school, that is 432% larger than typical.

Across the 29 schools in Billings Elem (11,377 students total), Ben Steele Middle School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Ben Steele Middle School reports that nearly all students (85%) are White. The remainder is composed of 5% Hispanic, 5% multiracial, 4% Native American. That composition is broadly in line with Yellowstone County as a whole.

Looking at school resources, Ben Steele Middle School lists 40 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 18.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.3:1, putting Ben Steele Middle School higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 24% of students at Ben Steele Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Yellowstone County runs at roughly 48%, so the school's eligibility rate is meaningfully below the surrounding baseline.

Across the wider county, census data for Yellowstone County shows the typical household earns roughly $76,570 per year, 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Ben Steele Middle School is one of 68 public schools in Yellowstone County (combined enrollment of about 23,853 students).

Nearest neighbor: Arrowhead School, around 2.5 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The school occupies a city-core site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Ben Steele Middle School has remained close to its prior level, going from 745 students in 2018 to 740 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.