Washington School

Washington School is a medium-sized elementary campus in Billings, Montana, part of Billings Elem. The school teaches 208 students in grades pre-K through 5. By comparison, Montana's public schools average about 167 students each, so Washington School sits 25% larger than that benchmark.

Billings Elem runs 29 schools in total, collectively educating 11,377 students. Washington School is one of those campuses.

Looking at the student body, Washington School records that 50% of students identify as White, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Other groups include 22% Native American, 16% Hispanic, 8% multiracial, 4% Black. By comparison, Yellowstone County as a whole is about 86% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Washington School lists 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 11.8:1. That tracks the state average closely. About 75% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is above Yellowstone County's rate of about 48%.

In the surrounding community, community-level numbers for Yellowstone County indicate the typical household earns roughly $76,570 per year, 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Across Yellowstone County's 68 public schools (combined enrollment of about 23,853 students), Washington School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Miles Avenue School, roughly 0.7 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in a metropolitan setting.

Over the past 6-year window. Looking back 6 years, enrollment at Washington School has edged down 30%, going from 296 students in 2018 to 208 in 2024. White enrollment moved from 56% to 50% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 13.1:1 in 2018 to 11.3:1 today.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.