Central School (Ranked Top 50% for 2026)

1325 Poplar
Helena, MT 59601

( shown in map)

Top 50%

central.helenaschools.org

Serving 284 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Central School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Montana for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 35-39% (which is approximately equal to the Montana state average of 37%). The percentage of students achieving is 50-54% (which is higher than the Montana state average of 46%).

The student-teacher ratio of 14:1 is higher than the Montana state level of 12:1.

Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is lower than the Montana state average of 23% (majority American Indian).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 284 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 16%
: Top 50% in MT
: 35-39% (Btm 50%)
: 50-54% (Top 30%)
: 60-69% (Top 5%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Central School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Montana for:

School Overview

Central School's student population of 284 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 21 teachers has declined by 8% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Central School
Pre-K	4
Kind	41
1	48
2	44
3	50
4	47
5	50

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Total Students

284 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Central School
2023	319
2022	291
2021	276
2020	243
2019	243
2018	249
2017	249
2016	266
2015	259
2014	247
2013	274
2012	282
2011	274
2010	281
2009	299
2008	273
2007	258
2006	249
2005	255
2004	271
2003	271
2002	293
2001	323
2000	302
1999	317
1998	320
1997	332
1996	330
1995	337
1994	326
1993	321
1992	298
1991	280
1990	298
1989	289
1988	321
1987	296

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

21 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Central School
2023	35
2022	25
2021	23
2020	18
2019	18
2018	18
2017	18
2016	18
2015	18
2014	19
2013	18
2012	19
2011	19
2010	20
2009	20
2008	18
2007	16
2006	16
2005	16
2004	15
2003	16
2002	17
2001	17
2000	17
1999	17
1998	18
1997	17
1996	18
1995	17
1994	19
1993	17
1992	12
1991	14
1990	14
1989	15
1988	16
1987	20

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Year Founded

1905

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

School Rankings

Central School ranks within the top 50% of all 696 schools in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Central School is 0.29, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.40. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (MT)

#273 out of 696 schools
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Central School
2023	#273
2022	#290
2021	#426
2019	#367
2018	#237
2017	#416
2016	#384
2015	#372
2013	#418
2012	#296
2011	#299

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35-39%

37%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	37%	37%	41%
2022	42%	35%	38%
2021	37%	36%	34%
2019	42%	42%	47%
2018	47%	42%	48%
2017	47%	41%	50%
2016	42%	43%	47%
2015	37%	40%	45%
2013	67%	66%	68%
2012	67%	68%	68%
2011	62%	68%	64%

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50-54%

46%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2022	52%	46%	52%
2021	42%	47%	51%
2019	52%	50%	56%
2018	57%	51%	48%
2017	47%	51%	59%
2016	42%	50%	57%
2015	47%	48%	54%
2013	77%	84%	85%
2012	87%	86%	87%
2011	87%	84%	86%
2010	87%	84%	86%

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60-69%

37%

Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

12:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	9:1	12:1	15:1
2022	12:1	12:1	15:1
2021	12:1	12:1	15:1
2020	14:1	12:1	17:1
2019	14:1	12:1	17:1
2018	14:1	14:1	17:1
2017	14:1	12:1	17:1
2016	15:1	14:1	17:1
2015	14:1	14:1	17:1
2014	13:1	12:1	17:1
2013	15:1	12:1	17:1
2012	15:1	12:1	17:1
2011	14:1	12:1	17:1
2010	14:1	11:1	17:1
2009	15:1	11:1	17:1
2008	15:1	11:1	16:1
2007	16:1	13:1	18:1
2006	16:1	13:1	18:1
2005	16:1	13:1	18:1
2004	18:1	13:1	18:1
2003	17:1	14:1	19:1
2002	17:1	13:1	18:1
2001	19:1	14:1	19:1
2000	18:1	14:1	18:1
1999	19:1	15:1	18:1
1998	18:1	14:1	17:1
1997	19:1	14:1	18:1
1996	19:1	14:1	18:1
1995	20:1	14:1	18:1
1994	18:1	14:1	19:1
1993	19:1	13:1	19:1
1992	25:1	15:1	21:1
1991	21:1	14:1	20:1
1990	21:1	13:1	18:1
1989	19:1	14:1	18:1
1988	21:1	14:1	17:1
1987	15:1	15:1	18:1

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American Indian

10%

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	6%	10%	3%
2022	6%	11%	3%
2021	3%	11%	2%
2020	2%	11%	2%
2019	2%	11%	2%
2018	5%	12%	4%
2017	5%	12%	4%
2016	4%	12%	5%
2015	4%	11%	4%
2014	3%	11%	4%
2013	4%	11%	5%
2012	5%	12%	5%
2011	7%	11%	5%
2010	5%	12%	6%
2009	5%	12%	6%
2008	6%	11%	6%
2007	4%	12%	6%
2006	6%	12%	6%
2005	7%	11%	6%
2004	6%	11%	6%
2003	6%	11%	6%
2002	5%	11%	6%
2001	8%	11%	6%
2000	3%	11%	5%
1999	3%	10%	4%
1998	5%	10%	4%
1997	4%	10%	4%
1996	4%	10%	4%
1995	4%	10%	4%
1994	7%	10%	5%
1993	3%	9%	4%

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Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	1%	1%	1%
2021	1%	1%	1%
2020	1%	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%	1%
2018	2%	1%	1%
2017	2%	1%	1%
2016	2%	1%	1%
2015	1%	1%
2014	1%	1%	1%
2013	1%	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%	1%
2011	1%	1%	1%
2010	2%	1%	1%
2009	2%	1%	1%
2008	2%	1%	1%
2007	2%	1%	1%
2006	3%	1%	1%
2005	3%	1%	1%
2004	2%	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%	1%
2000	1%	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%	1%
1998	2%	1%	1%
1997	2%	1%	1%
1996	2%	1%	1%
1995	2%	1%	1%
1994	2%	1%	1%
1993	2%	1%	1%
1992	3%	1%

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Hispanic

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	6%	6%	8%
2022	5%	5%	8%
2021	9%	5%	9%
2020	1%	5%	4%
2019	1%	5%	4%
2018	1%	4%	3%
2017	1%	4%	3%
2016	1%	4%	3%
2015	3%	4%	3%
2014	2%	4%	3%
2013	4%	4%	3%
2012	5%	4%	3%
2011	3%	4%	3%
2010	3%	3%	2%
2009	3%	3%	2%
2008	2%	3%	2%
2007	1%	2%	2%
2005	1%	2%	2%
2004	2%	2%	2%
2003	2%	2%	2%
2002	1%	2%	2%
2001	2%	2%	1%
2000	2%	2%	1%
1999	3%	2%	1%
1997	1%	2%	1%
1994	1%	1%	1%
1993	2%	1%	1%
1992	1%	1%	1%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	1%	1%	1%
2022	1%	1%	1%
2021	2%	1%	1%
2020	2%	1%	1%
2019	2%	1%	1%
2018	1%	1%
2017	1%	1%
2016	2%	1%
2015	1%	1%	1%
2014	2%	1%	1%
2013	2%	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%	1%
2011	2%	1%	2%
2010	1%	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%	1%

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White

84%

77%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	83%	77%	84%
2022	86%	78%	83%
2021	82%	78%	83%
2020	89%	78%	87%
2019	89%	78%	87%
2018	88%	79%	89%
2017	88%	79%	89%
2016	87%	79%	89%
2015	89%	80%	90%
2014	89%	80%	90%
2013	89%	81%	90%
2012	88%	81%	90%
2011	87%	82%	89%
2010	89%	83%	90%
2009	89%	83%	90%
2008	89%	84%	90%
2007	92%	84%	90%
2006	90%	85%	90%
2005	88%	85%	90%
2004	89%	85%	90%
2003	90%	85%	90%
2002	92%	85%	90%
2001	88%	85%	92%
2000	93%	86%	93%
1999	93%	86%	94%
1998	93%	87%	94%
1997	92%	87%	94%
1996	93%	88%	94%
1995	94%	88%	94%
1994	89%	88%	93%
1993	93%	88%	94%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2014-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	3%	5%	3%
2022	2%	4%	4%
2021	3%	4%	4%
2020	5%	4%	5%
2019	5%	4%	5%
2018	3%	3%	3%
2017	3%	3%	3%
2016	4%	3%	2%
2015	2%	3%	2%
2014	2%	3%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.29

0.40

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	0.31	0.39	0.30
2022	0.26	0.38	0.30
2021	0.32	0.38	0.30
2020	0.21	0.38	0.24
2019	0.21	0.38	0.24
2018	0.22	0.36	0.20
2017	0.22	0.36	0.20
2016	0.24	0.36	0.20
2015	0.21	0.35	0.19
2014	0.21	0.35	0.19
2013	0.21	0.33	0.20
2012	0.22	0.34	0.19
2011	0.24	0.33	0.19
2010	0.21	0.30	0.18
2009	0.21	0.29	0.18
2008	0.21	0.28	0.19
2007	0.14	0.28	0.18
2006	0.19	0.27	0.19
2005	0.22	0.27	0.19
2004	0.21	0.27	0.19
2003	0.18	0.27	0.19
2002	0.15	0.26	0.17
2001	0.22	0.26	0.15
2000	0.13	0.25	0.13
1999	0.13	0.24	0.12
1998	0.13	0.24	0.12
1997	0.14	0.24	0.12
1996	0.13	0.22	0.12
1995	0.12	0.22	0.12
1994	0.20	0.22	0.13
1993	0.13	0.22	0.11

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

39%

42%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	37%	37%	32%
2022	41%	37%	33%
2021	43%	38%	33%
2020	49%	38%	32%
2019	49%	38%	32%
2018	47%	40%	32%
2017	47%	40%	32%
2016	43%	39%	35%
2015	38%	37%	32%
2014	43%	34%	32%
2013	39%	34%	32%
2012	36%	33%	27%
2011	35%	33%	29%
2010	28%	31%	22%
2009	36%	27%	25%
2008	27%	27%	22%
2007	30%	26%	24%
2006	27%	26%	22%
2005	27%	25%	22%
2004	18%	26%	21%
2003	24%	24%	20%
2002	25%	23%	18%
2001	28%	23%	18%
2000	23%	24%	16%
1999	23%	23%	16%
1998	19%	23%	17%
1997	18%	23%	17%
1996	19%	22%	17%
1995	22%	22%	16%
1994	27%	22%	16%
1993	20%	22%	17%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Central School	Montana	Helena Elementary School District
2023	2%	5%	4%
2022	2%	5%	5%
2021	2%	6%	5%
2020	2%	6%	5%
2019	2%	6%	5%
2018	2%	6%	4%
2017	2%	6%	4%
2016	5%	5%	5%
2015	8%	7%	7%
2014	5%	7%	8%
2013	7%	8%	7%
2012	2%	7%	6%
2011	6%	8%	7%
2010	8%	8%	8%
2009	9%	10%	10%
2008	10%	9%	9%
2007	6%	8%	9%
2006	4%	8%	8%
2005	5%	8%	7%
2004	9%	8%	7%
2003	6%	8%	7%
2002	6%	8%	6%
2001	8%	8%	6%
2000	8%	8%	7%
1999	6%	7%	6%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Helena Elementary School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education

School Notes

School Mascot: Wild Boars

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Central School's ranking?

Central School is ranked #273 out of 696 schools, which ranks it among the top 50% of public schools in Montana.

What schools are Central School often compared to?

Central Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Hawthorne School, Bryant School, Jefferson School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

35-39% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 37% MT state average), while 50-54% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 46% MT state average).

How many students attend Central School?

284 students attend Central School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

84% of Central School students are White, 7% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are American Indian, 2% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Central School?

Central School has a student ration of 14:1, which is higher than the Montana state average of 12:1.

What grades does Central School offer ?

Central School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Central School part of?

Central School is part of Helena Elementary School District.

School Reviews

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