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Helena Elementary School District

Item: Helena Elementary School District
Rating: 9
Author: Public School Review

1325 Poplar Street
Helena, MT 59601

( shown in map)

Top 20%

Tel: (406) 324-2001

helenaschools.org

Top Rankings

Helena Elementary School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:

Overview

This School District

This State (MT)

# Schools

16 Schools

839 Schools

# Students

5,100 Students

147,431 Students

# Teachers

321 Teachers

10,727 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
Pre-K	85	8
Kind	501	26
1	521	27
2	516	28
3	648	30
4	567	29
5	577	29
6	564	29
7	536	29
8	585	29

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District Rank

Helena Elementary School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 333 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

This School District

State Average (MT)

#62 out of 350 school districts
(Top 20%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District
2023	#62
2022	#121
2021	#150
2019	#112
2018	#128
2017	#44
2016	#82
2015	#127
2014	#1
2013	#140
2012	#154

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41%

37%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	41%	37%
2022	38%	35%
2021	34%	36%
2019	47%	42%
2018	48%	42%
2017	50%	41%
2016	47%	43%
2015	45%	40%
2014	80%	70%
2013	68%	66%
2012	68%	68%

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52%

46%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2022	52%	46%
2021	51%	47%
2019	56%	50%
2018	48%	51%
2017	59%	51%
2016	57%	50%
2015	54%	48%
2014	80%	70%
2013	85%	84%
2012	87%	86%
2011	86%	84%

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48%

37%

(2022-23)

34.7%

35.9%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	34.7%	35.9%
2022	44.6%	41.1%
2021	19.8%	29.6%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.29

0.40

View Data

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

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% American Indian

10%

View Data

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

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% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	1%	1%
2022	1%	1%
2021	1%	1%
2020	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%
2018	1%	1%
2017	1%	1%
2016	1%	1%
2014	1%	1%
2013	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%
2011	1%	1%
2010	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%
2000	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%
1994	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%
1991	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	8%	6%
2022	8%	5%
2021	9%	5%
2020	4%	5%
2019	4%	5%
2018	3%	4%
2017	3%	4%
2016	3%	4%
2015	3%	4%
2014	3%	4%
2013	3%	4%
2012	3%	4%
2011	3%	4%
2010	2%	3%
2009	2%	3%
2008	2%	3%
2007	2%	2%
2006	2%	2%
2005	2%	2%
2004	2%	2%
2003	2%	2%
2002	2%	2%
2001	1%	2%
2000	1%	2%
1999	1%	2%
1998	1%	1%
1997	1%	2%
1996	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%
1994	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%

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% Black

View Data

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

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% White

84%

76%

View Data

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

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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	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	3%	5%
2022	4%	4%
2021	4%	4%
2020	5%	4%
2019	5%	4%
2018	3%	3%
2017	3%	3%
2016	2%	3%
2015	2%	3%
2014	1%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,736 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,499. The school district revenue/student has grown by 15% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $13,891 is less than the state median of $15,589. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.

This School District

This State (MT)

Total Revenue

$75 MM

$2,285 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	$75 MM	$2 MM
2022	$68 MM	$2 MM
2021	$75 MM	$2 MM
2020	$68 MM	$2 MM
2019	$66 MM	$2 MM
2018	$63 MM	$2 MM
2017	$57 MM	$2 MM
2016	$53 MM	$2 MM
2015	$50 MM	$2 MM
2014	$54 MM	$2 MM
2012	$51 MM	$2 MM
2011	$54 MM	$2 MM
2010	$50 MM	$2 MM
2009	$48 MM	$1 MM
2008	$45 MM	$2 MM
2007	$41 MM	$1 MM
2006	$39 MM	$1 MM
2005	$38 MM	$1 MM
2004	$36 MM	$1 MM
2003	$35 MM	$1 MM
2002	$33 MM	$1 MM
2001	$32 MM	$1 MM
2000	$29 MM	$1 MM
1999	$28 MM	$1 MM
1998	$29 MM	$1 MM
1997	$28 MM	$1 MM
1996	$27 MM	$1 MM
1995	$26 MM	$1 MM

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Spending

$71 MM

$2,298 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	$71 MM	$2 MM
2022	$69 MM	$2 MM
2021	$71 MM	$2 MM
2020	$69 MM	$2 MM
2019	$95 MM	$2 MM
2018	$90 MM	$2 MM
2017	$55 MM	$2 MM
2016	$54 MM	$2 MM
2015	$50 MM	$2 MM
2014	$54 MM	$2 MM
2012	$50 MM	$2 MM
2011	$54 MM	$2 MM
2010	$50 MM	$2 MM
2009	$47 MM	$1 MM
2008	$44 MM	$1 MM
2007	$39 MM	$1 MM
2006	$38 MM	$1 MM
2005	$37 MM	$1 MM
2004	$36 MM	$1 MM
2003	$33 MM	$1 MM
2002	$32 MM	$1 MM
2001	$30 MM	$1 MM
2000	$29 MM	$1 MM
1999	$27 MM	$1 MM
1998	$27 MM	$1 MM
1997	$28 MM	$1 MM
1996	$28 MM	$1 MM
1995	$26 MM	$1 MM

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Revenue / Student

$14,736

$15,499

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	$14,383	$17,353
2022	$12,715	$17,118
2021	$14,670	$18,438
2020	$12,715	$17,118
2019	$12,522	$16,964
2018	$12,154	$17,300
2017	$10,960	$17,087
2016	$10,324	$16,286
2015	$9,645	$15,305
2014	$10,486	$16,457
2012	$9,920	$16,184
2011	$10,555	$15,398
2010	$9,746	$15,305
2009	$9,381	$13,611
2008	$9,064	$14,981
2007	$8,352	$13,019
2006	$7,960	$12,206
2005	$7,673	$11,851
2004	$7,230	$11,519
2003	$6,881	$10,500
2002	$6,618	$10,028
2001	$6,333	$9,685
2000	$5,857	$9,308
1999	$5,596	$8,330
1998	$5,534	$8,573
1997	$5,216	$7,655
1995	$4,616	$7,082
1992	$4,498	$7,082

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Spending / Student

$13,891

$15,589

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Helena Elementary School District	Montana
2023	$13,558	$16,311
2022	$12,953	$16,545
2021	$13,828	$17,330
2020	$12,953	$16,545
2019	$18,010	$16,216
2018	$17,276	$17,245
2017	$10,571	$16,779
2016	$10,395	$16,362
2015	$9,709	$14,876
2014	$10,560	$16,381
2012	$9,710	$15,796
2011	$10,519	$15,854
2010	$9,812	$14,876
2009	$9,181	$13,259
2008	$8,854	$13,942
2007	$7,947	$12,364
2006	$7,647	$11,636
2005	$7,496	$11,089
2004	$7,184	$10,717
2003	$6,581	$10,434
2002	$6,432	$9,725
2001	$5,962	$9,463
2000	$5,793	$9,009
1999	$5,409	$8,277
1998	$5,321	$8,100
1997	$5,106	$7,814
1995	$4,731	$7,055
1992	$3,903	$6,494

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Helena Elementary School District?

Helena Elementary School District manages 16 public schools serving 5,100 students.

What is the rank of Helena Elementary School District?

Helena Elementary School District is ranked #117 out of 333 school districts in Montana (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Montana school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Helena Elementary School District?

84% of Helena Elementary School District students are White, 8% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are American Indian, 3% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Helena Elementary School District?

Helena Elementary School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the Montana state average of 14:1.

What is Helena Elementary School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $13,891 is less than the state median of $15,589. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 16 schools
Grades: PK-08
Enrollment: 5,100 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 16%
: Top 20% in MT
: 41% (Top 30%)
: 52% (Top 20%)
: 48% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MT Dept. of Education