School district or education agency · NCES 3000005

Helena Elementary

Helena, MT

District overview See comparisons

Students5,173

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools13

operational schools · 2023–24

Students5,173

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$13,752

per student

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictMTUnited States

Academic standing2023

53rd percentile48th percentile44th percentile

This district is 5 percentile points higher than the state figure and 9 percentile points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23

34.7%35.9%27.8%

This district is 1.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.9 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023

$14,966$16,089$19,509

This district is $1,123 per student lower than the state figure and $4,543 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023

$13,752$13,612$15,859

This district is $140 per student higher than the state figure and $2,107 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023

$273$1,531$1,964

This district is $1,258 per student lower than the state figure and $1,691 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023

$132$510$336

This district is $378 per student lower than the state figure and $204 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023

$1,833$1,199$1,793

This district is $634 per student higher than the state figure and $40 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023

$8,873$7,819$8,742

This district is $1,054 per student higher than the state figure and $131 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023

$1,482$2,427$3,769

This district is $945 per student lower than the state figure and $2,287 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023

$10,700$10,437$11,715

This district is $263 per student higher than the state figure and $1,015 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023

$559$540$869

This district is $19 per student higher than the state figure and $310 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24

16:114:115:1

This district is 2.0 students per teacher higher than the state figure and 1.0 students per teacher higher than the U.S. figure.

Students per counselor2023–24

323:1288:1376:1

This district is 35 students per counselor higher than the state figure and 53 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24

116.6145.3138.9

This district is 28.7 staff per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 22.3 staff per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24

16.919.118.5

This district is 2.2 aides per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 1.6 aides per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24

1.71.00.9

This district is 0.7 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 0.8 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Pre-K students as a share of enrollment2023–24

1.1%0.7%2.9%

This district is 0.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.8 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools

0.5%6.5%12.0%

This district is 6.0 percentage points lower than the state figure and 11.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools

22.4%13.7%14.0%

This district is 8.7 percentage points higher than the state figure and 8.4 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools

3.7%3.6%3.9%

This district is 0.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.2 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools

92.3%97.7%95.8%

This district is 5.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24

-0.2%-0.1%+0.5%

This district is 0.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment

2.7%3.6%4.5%

This district is 0.9 percentage points lower than the state figure and 1.8 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment

5.3%6.8%9.0%

This district is 1.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment

0.0%3.1%6.7%

This district is 3.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate

8.1%10.6%14.4%

This district is 2.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Pre-K59 students

1.1%

Kindergarten–grade 53,427 students

66.2%

Grades 6–81,687 students

32.6%

See enrollment for every grade

Pre-Kindergarten59

Kindergarten522

Grade 1526

Grade 2640

Grade 3573

Grade 4588

Grade 5578

Grade 6547

Grade 7582

Grade 8558

Students by race and ethnicity

White4,336 (83.8%)

Hispanic/Latino433 (8.4%)

Two or more races171 (3.3%)

American Indian or Alaska Native154 (3.0%)

Black or African American52 (1.0%)

Asian22 (0.4%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander5 (0.1%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Early learning · 2023–24

How much public pre-K is reported?

59Students enrolled in pre-K

Pre-K students as a share of district enrollment

District1.1%

MT0.7%

United States2.9%

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2023–24. Enrollment shows children attending district-run public pre-K. It does not show open seats, waitlists, private providers, program hours, eligibility or the cost to families.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

603.4All district staff, full-time equivalent

319.7Teachers, full-time equivalent

16School counselors, full-time equivalent

9School psychologists, full-time equivalent

87.3Instructional aides, full-time equivalent

12.7Librarians and media specialists, full-time equivalent

17School administrators, full-time equivalent

26.5Student support staff, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Elementary teachers319.7 FTE

Elementary school counselors16 FTE

Instructional coordinators2.3 FTE

District administrators2.3 FTE

District administrative support3.3 FTE

Other support staff107.3 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

0.5%Students learning English19 students · 8 of 13 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.5%

MT6.5%

U.S.12.0%

22.4%Students receiving IDEA special-education services1,159 students · 13 of 13 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District22.4%

MT13.7%

U.S.14.0%

3.7%Students with Section 504 plans192 students · 13 of 13 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District3.7%

MT3.6%

U.S.3.9%

0.0%English learners also receiving IDEA services1 students · 13 of 13 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.0%

MT0.9%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

92.3%Teachers reported as certified

77Children ages 3–5 in district preschool

Teacher certification comparison

District92.3%

MT97.7%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

6,408children ages 5 to 17

520estimated to live in families below the poverty line

8.1%about 1 in 12 school-age children

District8.1%

MT10.6%

United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in MT receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

Missoula ElementaryMissoula, MT5,177 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Billings H SBillings, MT5,481 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Bozeman ElementaryBozeman, MT4,679 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Northampton Area SDNorthampton, PA5,179 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Campbell CountyAlexandria, KY5,180 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

10Elementary schools

2Middle schools

10Town setting

2Rural setting

1Magnet schools

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

14.7%Federal

39.1%State

46.1%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$13,752Total current spending per student

$7,857Instruction per student

$5,048Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$11.5MFederal revenue14.7% of total revenue

$30.6MState revenue39.1% of total revenue

$36.1MLocal revenue46.1% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$7,857Instructionper student

$5,048Student and instructional supportper student

$1,833Special educationper student

$1,069Building operations and maintenanceper student

$860Student transportationper student

$629Food servicesper student

$21Technologyper student

People costs

$46.4MSalaries$8,873 per student

$7.7MEmployee benefits$1,482 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$689KEquipmentFY 2023

$1.4MCapital outlay$273 per student

$740KConstructionincluded in capital outlay

$55.9MDebt outstanding at year end$10,700 per student

$0New debt issuedFY 2023

$2.9MDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$2.2MInterest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$3MTitle I$572 per student

$1.7MIDEA special education$331 per student

$2.5MChild nutrition$474 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$13,560

FY 2023$13,752

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$447

FY 2023$273

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$11,354

FY 2023$10,700

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–2119.8%

1,006 of 5,089 students

2021–2244.6%

2,301 of 5,163 students

2022–2334.7%

1,815 of 5,225 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

2Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE12 reporting schools

0Security staff FTE12 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Gifted programs12 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

163Out-of-school suspensions12 reporting schoolsSee schools →203In-school suspensions12 reporting schoolsSee schools →29Law-enforcement referrals12 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests12 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi12 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber12 reporting schools

12Student devices reported12 reporting schools

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Are students making academic progress?3 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2023Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?34.7% chronically absent2022–23 · 5,225 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?No comparable group resultSuppressed or unavailableExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$13,752current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?323:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →