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 2025-26 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 42%), 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
392 Schools
# Students
5,173 Students
65,184 Students
# Teachers
320 Teachers
4,849 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 333 school districts in Montana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
Overall District Rank
#62 out of 350 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
37%
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
3%
10%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
8%
6%
% Black
1%
1%
% White
84%
77%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,528 in this school district is less than the state median of $15,270. 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 $15,359. 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
$15,270
Spending / Student
$13,695
$15,359
Best Helena Elementary School District Public Preschools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Jefferson School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1023 Broadway
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-2060
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-2060
Gr: PK-5 | 247 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
Smith School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2320 5th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1530
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1530
Gr: PK-5 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 307 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #44.
Four Georgians School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
555 Custer Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1300
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1300
Gr: PK-5 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #55.
Central School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1325 Poplar
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1230
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1230
Gr: PK-5 | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #66.
Hawthorne School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
430 Madison Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1370
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1370
Gr: PK-5 | 210 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #77.
Rossiter School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1497 Sierra Road East
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1500
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1500
Gr: PK-5 | 370 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #88.
Broadwater School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
900 Hollins
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1130
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1130
Gr: PK-5 | 247 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #99.
Kessler Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2420 Choteau Street
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1700
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1700
Gr: PK-5 | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1010.
Jim Darcy School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
990 Lincoln Road West
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1410
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 324-1410
Gr: PK-5 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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