Top Rankings
Helena Elementary School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Montana for:
Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 11 public preschools serving 3,486 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 41%), 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 23% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (MT)
# Schools
14 Schools
395 Schools
# Students
5,173 Students
65,251 Students
# Teachers
320 Teachers
4,856 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Helena Elementary School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 347 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
Overall District Rank
#121 out of 350 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
35%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
52%
46%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
37%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.29
0.40
# American Indian Students
154 Students
6,505 Students
% American Indian Students
3%
10%
# Asian Students
22 Students
357 Students
% Asian Students
1%
1%
# Hispanic Students
433 Students
4,243 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
6%
# Black Students
52 Students
459 Students
% Black Students
1%
1%
# White Students
4,336 Students
50,046 Students
% White Students
84%
77%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
111 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
171 Students
3,530 Students
% of Two or more races Students
3%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
59
1,059
# Students in K Grade:
522
11,907
# Students in 1st Grade:
526
10,512
# Students in 2nd Grade:
640
10,623
# Students in 3rd Grade:
573
9,606
# Students in 4th Grade:
588
9,406
# Students in 5th Grade:
578
8,220
# Students in 6th Grade:
547
3,620
# Students in 7th Grade:
582
158
# Students in 8th Grade:
558
140
# Students in 9th Grade:
-
-
# Students in 10th Grade:
-
-
# Students in 11th Grade:
-
-
# Students in 12th Grade:
-
-
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,528 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,263. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,695 is less than the state median of $15,352. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$75 MM
$2,285 MM

Spending
$71 MM
$2,298 MM

Revenue / Student
$14,528
$15,263

Spending / Student
$13,695
$15,352

Best Helena Elementary School District Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Jefferson School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1023 Broadway
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-2060
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-2060
Grades: PK-5
| 247 students
Rank: #22.
Smith School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2320 5th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1530
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1530
Grades: PK-5
| 292 students
Rank: #33.
Warren School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2690 Old York Road
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1600
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1600
Grades: PK-5
| 307 students
Rank: #44.
Four Georgians School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
555 Custer Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1300
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1300
Grades: PK-5
| 459 students
Rank: #55.
Central School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1325 Poplar
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1230
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1230
Grades: PK-5
| 284 students
Rank: #66.
Hawthorne School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
430 Madison Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1370
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1370
Grades: PK-5
| 210 students
Rank: #77.
Rossiter School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1497 Sierra Road East
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1500
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1500
Grades: PK-5
| 370 students
Rank: #88.
Kessler Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2420 Choteau Street
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1700
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1700
Grades: PK-5
| 248 students
Rank: #99.
Jim Darcy School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
990 Lincoln Road West
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1410
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1410
Grades: PK-5
| 486 students
Rank: #1010.
Broadwater School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
900 Hollins
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1130
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1130
Grades: PK-5
| 247 students
Rank: #1111.
Bryant School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1529 Boulder
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1200
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1200
Grades: PK-5
| 336 students
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