Billings Public Schools operates 35 schools (grades PK–08). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Billings Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 16,000 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 35 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $10,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ↓ 27% below avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Billings Public Schools
ZIP 59101 in Billings, Montana in Yellowstone County falls within the boundaries of Billings Public Schools. Its 6/10 rating is roughly in line with the Montana average across the funding and enrollment measures NCES tracks. The district operates 35 schools and serves roughly 16,000 students (a large district), covering Pre-K – 12th. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Billings Public Schools runs approximately $10,000 annually, placing it 17% below the Montana state average of approximately $12,000 and below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Below-average funding can mean larger class sizes, fewer elective offerings, and limited extracurricular programs. Families with specialized needs should verify specific program availability directly with the district. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
Billings Public Schools is a very large district with 35 schools serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 16,000 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Billings Public Schools 6 out of 10 — average among Montana public school districts. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Billings Public Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 59101
Children in zip code 59101 are assigned to Billings Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 59101, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Billings Public Schools at (580)725-3271 or visit www.billings.k12.ok.us. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Montana districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Billings
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Billings Public Schools serves zip code 59101, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 59101 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Montana, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Billings Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 59101.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Billings Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 59101 data.