Best Yellowstone County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 35 public preschools serving 10,378 students in Yellowstone County, MT.
The top-ranked public preschools in Yellowstone County, MT are Arrowhead School, Meadowlark School and Elysian School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Yellowstone County, MT public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 47% statewide average). Pre schools in Yellowstone County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Montana public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is more than the Montana public preschool average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Best Public Preschools in Yellowstone County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Arrowhead School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2510 38th Street West
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6201
Gr: PK-5 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Meadowlark School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
221 29th Street West
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6213
Gr: PK-5 | 691 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #33.
Elysian School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6416 Elysian Road
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 656-4101
Gr: PK-5 | 302 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #44.
Morin School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
8824 Pryor Road
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 259-6093
Gr: PK-6 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #55.
Boulder School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2202 32nd Street West
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6206
Gr: PK-5 | 495 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #66.
Eagle Cliffs Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1201 Kootenai
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6210
Gr: PK-5 | 443 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #77.
Central Heights School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
120 Lexington
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6209
Gr: PK-5 | 285 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #88.
Canyon Creek School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3139 Duck Creek Road
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 656-4471
Gr: PK-5 | 147 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Poly Drive School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2410 Poly Drive
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6217
Gr: PK-5 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Shepherd Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
7842 Shepherd Road
Shepherd, MT 59079
(406) 373-5516
Gr: PK-5 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1111.
Independent School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2907 Roundup Road
Billings, MT 59105
(406) 259-8109
Gr: PK-6 | 272 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Alkali Creek School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
681 Alkali Creek Road
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6200
Gr: PK-5 | 310 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Mckinley School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
820 North 31st Street
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6212
Gr: PK-5 | 339 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1414.
Custer School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
304 4th Avenue
Custer, MT 59024
(406) 856-4117
Gr: PK-6 | 49 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #1515.
Burlington School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2135 Lewis Avenue
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6208
Gr: PK-5 | 257 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Blue Creek School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3652 Blue Creek Road
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 259-0653
Gr: PK-6 | 145 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Highland School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
729 Parkhill
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6211
Gr: PK-5 | 249 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1818.
Broadview School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
13935 1st Street
Broadview, MT 59015
(406) 667-2337
Gr: PK-8 | 105 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1919.
Beartooth School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1345 Elaine Street
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6202
Gr: PK-5 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #2020.
Big Sky Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3231 Granger Avenue East
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6204
Gr: PK-5 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #2121.
Elder Grove School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1532 South 64 Street W
Billings, MT 59106
(406) 656-2893
Gr: PK-5 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2222.
Sandstone School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1440 Nutter Blvd
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6220
Gr: PK-5 | 393 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2323.
Huntley Project Elementary K-6
(Math: 38% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1477 Ash Street
Worden, MT 59088
(406) 967-2540
Gr: PK-6 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2424.
Miles Avenue School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1601 Miles Avenue
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6214
Gr: PK-5 | 325 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #2525.
Pioneer School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1937 Dover Road
Billings, MT 59105
(406) 373-5357
Gr: PK-8 | 73 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #2626.
Bitterroot School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1801 Bench Blvd
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6205
Gr: PK-5 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2727.
Rose Park School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1812 19th Street West
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6219
Gr: PK-5 | 277 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #2828.
Broadwater School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
415 Broadwater
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6207
Gr: PK-5 | 400 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Bench School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
505 Milton Road
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6203
Gr: PK-5 | 332 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Orchard School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
120 Jackson Street
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6216
Gr: PK-5 | 340 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #3131.
Yellowstone Academy Elementary School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1750 Ray Of Hope Lane
Billings, MT 59106
(406) 656-2198
Gr: PK-6 | 36 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #3232.
Ponderosa School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4188 King Avenue East
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6218
Gr: PK-5 | 277 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #3333.
Newman School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
605 South Billings Blvd
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 281-6215
Gr: PK-5 | 249 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: n/an/a
Lockwood Primary
1932 Us Highway 87 E.
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 252-2776
Gr: PK-2 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: n/an/a
South School
606 Sw Fifth
Laurel, MT 59044
(406) 628-6917
Gr: PK-K | 158 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 15%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Yellowstone County, MT?
The top-ranked public preschools in Yellowstone County, MT include Arrowhead School, Meadowlark School and Elysian School.
How many public preschools are located in Yellowstone County?
36 public preschools are located in Yellowstone County.
What is the racial composition of students in Yellowstone County?
Yellowstone County public preschools minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is more than the Montana public preschools average of 24% (majority American Indian).
Which public preschools in Yellowstone County are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.