543 Shepherd Acton Rd
Shepherd, MT 59079

We moved to Billings in 2016 when our daughter was in the middle of 2nd grade. After enrolling her at Independent, we went in to tour the school and meet her new teacher, Ms.V. The principal, Ms. Chouinard, was very personable and informative on what the school was about and what we, as parents, should expect from the teachers, staff and our kids. Our daughter was welcomed with open arms and smiles on her first day. She excelled at Independent because of the care and compassion or her teachers. Once she graduated, her teachers continue to ask about her and want me to pass on their best wishes and gratitude for her being such a great student. We currently have another daughter at Independent who has anxiety and sensory issues. Because of this, her learning is taking longer than anticipated for her age thus putting her in special education/resource room. She used to not want to go to school because of her anxiety and thinking kids would make fun of her. Her 1st grade teacher, Ms. Nussbaum, is the one that helped us recognize the signs and on the right path to better her education. She is now in 4th grade and the improvement is amazing! With the help of her resource room teachers and her homeroom teacher, she is thriving and loves going to school every day. The entire staff at Independent is phenomenal and such assets to the school. I highly recommend this school for those moving to Billings within SD52. Your kids will excel and be well loved/taken care of day after day.

Skyview is the worst of the three public high schools in Billings, MT. If your child is an academic honors student, then this school will be fine. Anyone can teach those kids. If your child is average or needs extra help or encouragement, this school is awful. We have had a couple of great teachers, but sadly most of them have been below average or downright terrible: not engaging kids, just sitting behind a desk all class period, not even showing up for class (yes, true), telling the students to go to YouTube if they need help. Harassment and threats of violence are rampant, and the principal and deans do little to assist. The SRO is great, but he can't do it all. There is terrible student vandalism within the school bathrooms. Need I go on? It is a "good-ol-boys club" in administration. We moved our son out, and we hope to never set foot in Skyview again.