Helena Elementary School District

1325 Poplar Street
Helena, MT 59601
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 11 public preschools serving 3,217 students in Helena Elementary School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public pre schools in Montana.
Public Preschools in Helena Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the Montana public pre school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Montana public preschool average of 24% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
16 Schools
385 Schools
# Students
5,100 Students
62,935 Students
# Teachers
321 Teachers
4,681 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Helena Elementary School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 332 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%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

41%
37%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

52%
46%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

48%
37%
(2022-23)
34.7%
35.9%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.29
0.41

Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
3%
10%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

% Asian
1%
1%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
8%
7%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
1%
1%

Showing 2011–2023. Full 22-year historical data available below ↓

% White
84%
76%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,333 in this school district is less than the state median of $16,573. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,919 is less than the state median of $16,214. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MT)
Total Revenue
$78 MM
$2,442 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$76 MM
$2,389 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$15,333
$16,573

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$14,919
$16,214

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Helena Elementary School District Public Preschools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Jefferson School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1023 Broadway
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-2060
Gr: PK-5 | 245 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #22.
Smith School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2320 5th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1530
Gr: PK-5 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #33.
Warren School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2690 Old York Road
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1600
Gr: PK-5 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #44.
Four Georgians School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
555 Custer Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1300
Gr: PK-5 | 482 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #55.
Central School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1325 Poplar
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1230
Gr: PK-5 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #66.
Hawthorne School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
430 Madison Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1370
Gr: PK-5 | 183 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #77.
Rossiter School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1497 Sierra Road East
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1500
Gr: PK-5 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #88.
Broadwater School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
900 Hollins
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1130
Gr: PK-5 | 207 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #99.
Kessler Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2420 Choteau Street
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1700
Gr: PK-5 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1010.
Jim Darcy School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
990 Lincoln Road West
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1410
Gr: PK-5 | 473 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1111.
Bryant School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1529 Boulder
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1200
Gr: PK-5 | 288 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 29%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • 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

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