Billings — Montana's largest city — operates the state's largest school district, Billings Public Schools, and is the only city in Montana with three Class AA high schools. With a population of 117,116 and an economy anchored by healthcare, energy, and finance, Billings's schools serve a diverse student body drawn from families across the economic spectrum. The district's scale allows for specialized programs, robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, and extracurricular opportunities that smaller Montana districts cannot match. Two local colleges — one public, one private — extend the education pipeline from K-12 through bachelor's and master's degrees. For the full city profile, see our Billings guide.
At a Glance
K-12 Public Schools
Billings Public Schools serves approximately 16,000 students across a network of elementary schools, middle schools, and three comprehensive high schools — the only city in Montana with three Class AA programs. Billings Senior High School, the oldest of the three, carries decades of academic and athletic tradition as a cornerstone of the community. Billings West High School serves the city's west side and has built a reputation for strong academics and competitive athletics. Billings Skyview High School, the newest of the three, opened to accommodate growth on the city's west end and has quickly established its own identity. The three-school structure creates spirited crosstown rivalries — Senior Broncs, West Golden Bears, and Skyview Falcons — that energize the community on Friday nights throughout the fall.
The graduation rate stands at 82%, and per-pupil spending of $11,200 reflects the community's investment in its schools through local mill levies and bond measures. As the state's largest district, Billings Public Schools benefits from economies of scale that allow for specialized staffing, advanced coursework, and facilities that smaller Montana districts struggle to fund. The district also operates alternative education programs and an early childhood education center to serve students with varying needs.
For enrollment information, school boundaries, and calendar details, visit the district's website at billingsschools.org.
Academic Programs & Specialties
All three high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses spanning English, mathematics, sciences, and social studies. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a particular strength of Billings's school system — the district operates a dedicated Career Center that provides hands-on training in health sciences, welding, automotive technology, construction trades, information technology, and culinary arts. These programs connect directly to Billings's major employment sectors, giving students a pathway from the classroom into healthcare, energy, and skilled trades careers without leaving the city.
The three-high-school structure gives families meaningful choice within the public system. Each school has developed its own academic culture and extracurricular strengths — from robotics and STEM clubs to award-winning fine arts and music programs. Dual-enrollment agreements with Montana State University Billings and Rocky Mountain College allow qualifying juniors and seniors to earn college credits while still in high school, reducing the time and cost of postsecondary education for students who stay in Billings.
Private & Alternative Schools
Families in Billings have access to several private school options, including faith-based schools that serve elementary and middle school students with smaller class sizes and values-centered curricula. Billings Central Catholic High School provides a private high school alternative, competing at the Class A level with a strong academic and athletic tradition. Homeschooling is well-established in the Billings area, with cooperative groups that provide group instruction, field trips, and social activities. The Montana Digital Academy offers accredited online courses for homeschool families and students seeking coursework beyond what their local school provides.
Montana State University Billings
Montana State University Billings (MSUB) is Billings's public university — part of the Montana University System — with approximately 3,700 students. MSUB offers bachelor's and master's degrees across more than 60 programs in arts and sciences, business, education, health professions, and technology. The university's City College division is a dedicated two-year college that provides associate degrees and certificate programs in high-demand fields including nursing, diesel technology, welding, process plant technology, and information technology — programs designed to feed graduates directly into Billings's healthcare, energy, and industrial sectors.
MSUB's affordability as a public institution makes it accessible to a broad range of students, including working adults, first-generation college students, and career changers. The Yellowjackets compete in NCAA Division II athletics, and the campus provides cultural events, guest lectures, and community engagement opportunities that enrich Billings's civic life. For a city of Billings's size, having a public university is a significant workforce development asset — it allows residents to earn degrees and credentials without relocating to Missoula or Bozeman.
Rocky Mountain College
Rocky Mountain College is Billings's private institution of higher education — an interdenominational liberal arts college with approximately 1,000 students. Founded in 1878, it is the oldest college in Montana and offers bachelor's and master's degrees across more than 70 programs, with particular strength in aviation, physician assistant studies, nursing, and outdoor recreation leadership. Rocky Mountain College's aviation program — which includes a fleet of training aircraft and an on-campus hangar — is one of the most respected in the Northern Rockies and draws students nationally.
The Battlin' Bears compete in NAIA athletics, and the college's small size fosters close faculty-student relationships and a tight-knit campus community. Rocky Mountain College complements MSUB by offering a private liberal arts alternative, and together the two institutions give Billings an educational breadth that no other Montana city outside of Missoula and Bozeman can match.
Libraries & Continuing Education
The Billings Public Library serves Billings and the surrounding area with a modern main branch downtown and the Lockwood Branch Library serving the eastern community. The library offers children's reading programs, digital literacy classes, maker spaces, community meeting rooms, and an extensive collection of physical and digital resources. The Parmly Billings Library — named after Frederick Billings, the city's namesake — has undergone significant renovations to serve as a 21st-century community resource.
MSUB's continuing education programs, Rocky Mountain College's professional development offerings, and various community organizations provide non-credit courses, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. GED preparation, English-language learning, and workforce development programs are available through local nonprofits and state agencies. Early childhood education options — including Head Start, private preschools, and daycare centers — serve the families of healthcare workers, energy-sector employees, and other professionals who make up Billings's diverse working population.
Schools & Family Life
For families considering a move, Billings's education system offers Montana's largest school district with an 82% graduation rate, three Class AA high schools, strong CTE and AP programs, and the unique advantage of both a public university (MSUB) and a private college (Rocky Mountain College) within city limits. The three-school structure gives families meaningful choice and keeps class sizes manageable despite the district's scale. The dedicated Career Center provides vocational training that connects directly to Billings's major employers in healthcare, energy, and skilled trades.
The presence of two colleges means that students who want to stay close to home for higher education have both an affordable public option and a selective private alternative — a combination available in no other Montana city of comparable size. Housing near the most sought-after schools tends to run above the city median. For details on housing by neighborhood, see our Billings housing market guide. For the overall cost picture, see the cost of living guide.