Broadwater School

Broadwater School is a high-enrollment elementary-level community in Billings, Montana, run under Billings Elem. The school enrolls 400 students in grades pre-K through 5. That puts it 140% larger than the typical public school in Montana, which averages around 167 students.

Broadwater School is one of 29 schools operated by Billings Elem, a district that hosts 11,377 students overall.

Demographically, Broadwater School lists that the largest single group is White, at 60% of enrollment; the rest reads as 17% Hispanic, 13% Native American, 8% multiracial, 2% Black. That is noticeably less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 86%.

Looking at school resources, The school reports having 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 16.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.9:1, putting Broadwater School higher than the state norm the norm. About 66% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is higher than Yellowstone County's rate of about 48%.

In the broader community, the surrounding county (Yellowstone County) reports that median household earnings sit near $76,570, about 34% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Across Yellowstone County's 68 public schools (combined enrollment of about 23,853 students), Broadwater School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Billings Sr High School, roughly 0.5 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The school occupies a metropolitan site.

Five-year trend. Broadwater School's enrollment has grew 7% since 2018, when it stood at 373 (now 400). The White share of enrollment edged down from 72% to 60% over that span. Class-load math has widened: from 14.9:1 in 2018 to 16.2:1 in 2025.

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