Smith School

Q: Is Smith School a good school?

Smith School ranks 105 th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Smith School is an elementary school in Helena, Montana, serving 290 students in grades PK-5. As part of the Helena Elementary District, which is ranked 115 out of 300 districts in the state, Smith School stands out for its diverse student population and strong academic performance.

With a higher percentage of Hispanic (24.14%) and Native American (4.83%) students compared to nearby schools, which range from 82.77% to 88.49% White students, Smith School has consistently outperformed the district and state averages in Mathematics, Reading, and Science proficiency on the Montana State Tests. In the 2022-2023 school year, Smith School's proficiency rates were 44.93% in Mathematics, 53.62% in Reading, and 42.11% in Science, surpassing the Helena Elementary District and the state. The school's academic performance has fluctuated over the years, with its statewide ranking ranging from 46th out of 329 elementary schools in 2021-2022 to 124th out of 356 in 2020-2021.

One interesting finding is that Smith School's more diverse student population appears to be associated with its stronger academic performance compared to the nearby schools, such as Jefferson School, which have less diverse student bodies but also demonstrate exceptional performance. This suggests that Smith School may be effectively serving its diverse community and providing a quality education. However, the school's fluctuating statewide ranking indicates that its performance may be sensitive to changes, and analyzing the practices of other high-performing schools in the area could provide valuable insights for further improvement.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

2320 5th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601

(406) 324-1530

District: Helena Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
105^th of 332 Montana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,115

Students who attend Smith School usually attend:

Middle:	Helena Middle School
High:	Helena High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.7

Number of students: 292

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.5%

Hispanic:

22.9%

American Indian:

3.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 24%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Smith School ranks better than 68.4% of elementary schools in Montana. It also ranks 3^rd among 11 ranked elementary schools in the Helena Elementary School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 68.67. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (69.5%), Hispanic (22.9%), American Indian (3.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 24% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Smith School is 14.7, which is the 4^th best among 11 elementary schools in the Helena Elementary School District. (See more...)

Compare Smith School employs 19.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Smith School is $14,115, which is the 2^nd highest among 11 elementary schools in the Helena Elementary School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Smith School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Helena Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Helena Elementary 115^th of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Smith School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MT State Percentile
2004	81.91	34^th	217	84.3%
2005	69.21	67^th	218	69.3%
2006	72.49	43^rd	234	81.6%
2007	76.62	22^nd	230	90.4%
2008	73.53	35^th	194	82.0%
2009	64.63	68^th	190	64.2%
2010	42.02	174^th	241	27.8%
2011	41.33	173^rd	247	30.0%
2012	41.63	178^th	244	27.0%
2013	38.10	180^th	246	26.8%
2015	66.78	105^th	287	63.4%
2016	58.56	78^th	191	59.2%
2017	72.79	25^th	109	77.1%
2018	51.96	59^th	116	49.1%
2019	48.84	66^th	123	46.3%
2021	67.71	124^th	356	65.2%
2022	87.33	46^th	329	86.0%
2023	68.67	105^th	332	68.4%

See the entire list of Montana Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Montana Office of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Smith School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1990	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	298	298
1991	292	0	4	4	4	n/a	n/a	0	304
1992	308	0	3	3	8	n/a	n/a	0	322
1993	331	0	7	2	10	n/a	n/a	0	350
1994	308	0	6	3	11	n/a	n/a	0	328
1995	290	0	7	0	6	n/a	n/a	0	303
1996	290	0	7	0	6	n/a	n/a	0	303
1997	279	0	7	0	5	n/a	n/a	0	291
1998	252	1	5	1	4	n/a	n/a	0	263
1999	307	2	4	3	9	n/a	n/a	0	325
2000	274	3	6	5	15	n/a	n/a	0	303
2001	281	4	2	4	15	n/a	n/a	0	306
2002	263	6	2	6	17	n/a	n/a	0	294
2003	263	6	2	6	17	n/a	n/a	0	294
2004	267	2	4	6	20	n/a	n/a	0	299
2005	256	3	7	5	22	n/a	n/a	0	293
2006	279	2	8	4	14	n/a	n/a	0	307
2007	259	1	9	10	14	n/a	n/a	0	293
2008	254	2	9	10	17	n/a	n/a	0	292
2009	271	2	12	9	18	n/a	n/a	0	312
2010	277	0	8	11	16	n/a	n/a	0	312
2011	270	1	7	11	19	2	0	0	310
2012	240	1	3	12	21	1	1	0	279
2013	245	5	3	11	22	1	1	0	288
2014	266	3	5	10	16	1	3	0	304
2015	254	2	4	12	13	0	13	0	298
2016	259	3	5	9	15	0	10	0	301
2017	270	3	6	4	14	1	13	0	311
2018	270	3	3	11	13	1	19	0	320
2019	268	2	2	12	10	1	15	0	310
2020	216	1	1	50	6	1	11	0	286
2021	154	1	0	86	7	1	7	0	256
2022	179	4	0	68	10	0	8	0	269
2023	195	4	0	70	14	0	7	0	290
2024	203	5	1	67	9	0	7	0	292

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Smith School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	298	13.0	22.9	12.1
1991	304	13.1	23.2	10.9
1992	322	12.0	26.8	12.4
1993	350	15.6	22.4	11.1
1994	328	15.6	21.0	14
1995	303	18.1	16.7	12.2
1996	303	18.1	16.7	12.2
1997	291	17.6	16.5	15.1
1998	263	17.5	15.0	15.6
1999	325	18.7	17.4	20
2000	303	19.9	15.2	20.1
2001	306	19.0	16.1	23.5
2002	294	17.8	16.5	25.5
2003	294	17.8	16.5	25.5
2004	299	18.2	16.4	25.8
2005	293	18.1	16.2	31.4
2006	307	17.6	17.4	32.2
2007	293	18.2	16.1	31.1
2008	292	17.6	16.6	26.7
2009	312	19.0	16.4	33.7
2010	312	18.0	17.2	34.6
2011	310	17.6	17.5	38.4
2012	279	18.1	15.3	33.3
2013	288	18.1	15.8	46.2
2014	304	17.4	17.3	41.8
2015	298	20.0	14.9	39.3
2016	301	21.0	14.3	37.2
2017	311	20.3	15.2	34.7
2018	320	20.2	15.7	31.9
2019	310	20.0	15.5	39.4
2020	286	18.7	15.2	29.4
2021	256	19.8	12.8	n/a
2022	269	21.1	12.7	n/a
2023	290	19.6	14.7	n/a
2024	292	19.8	14.7	24

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Smith School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	298	13.0	22.9	12.1
1991	304	13.1	23.2	10.9
1992	322	12.0	26.8	12.4
1993	350	15.6	22.4	11.1
1994	328	15.6	21.0	14
1995	303	18.1	16.7	12.2
1996	303	18.1	16.7	12.2
1997	291	17.6	16.5	15.1
1998	263	17.5	15.0	15.6
1999	325	18.7	17.4	20
2000	303	19.9	15.2	20.1
2001	306	19.0	16.1	23.5
2002	294	17.8	16.5	25.5
2003	294	17.8	16.5	25.5
2004	299	18.2	16.4	25.8
2005	293	18.1	16.2	31.4
2006	307	17.6	17.4	32.2
2007	293	18.2	16.1	31.1
2008	292	17.6	16.6	26.7
2009	312	19.0	16.4	33.7
2010	312	18.0	17.2	34.6
2011	310	17.6	17.5	38.4
2012	279	18.1	15.3	33.3
2013	288	18.1	15.8	46.2
2014	304	17.4	17.3	41.8
2015	298	20.0	14.9	39.3
2016	301	21.0	14.3	37.2
2017	311	20.3	15.2	34.7
2018	320	20.2	15.7	31.9
2019	310	20.0	15.5	39.4
2020	286	18.7	15.2	29.4
2021	256	19.8	12.8	n/a
2022	269	21.1	12.7	n/a
2023	290	19.6	14.7	n/a
2024	292	19.8	14.7	24

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Smith School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$9,700
2021	$13,714
2022	$14,446
2023	$14,115

Data source: Montana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Smith School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 66^th of 123 Elementary schools	Ranks 105^th of 332 Elementary schools	22%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	310	290	6.5%
African American	2	4	100%
American Indian	10	14	40%
Asian	2	0	100%
Hispanic	12	70	483.3%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	268	195	27.2%
Two or More Races	15	7	53.3%

Schools Near Smith School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				Montana State Tests Mathematics (2023)	Montana State Tests Reading (2023)	Montana State Tests Science (2023)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Montana State Tests Mathematics All Grades	Montana State Tests Reading All Grades	Montana State Tests Science All Grades	Total
Smith School	Public	PK, KG-5	2320 5th Avenue	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 324-1530	292	20	14.7	24.0%	203 (69.5%)	5 (1.7%)	67 (22.9%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	68.7	105^th of 332 public elementary schools	68.4%		87.3	46^th of 329 public elementary schools	86.0%	59	44.9	53.6	42.1	$14,115
Bryant School	Public	PK, KG-5	1529 Boulder	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 324-1200	336	24	14.1	58.6%	236 (70.2%)	1 (0.3%)	59 (17.6%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	27.9	260^th of 332 public elementary schools	21.7%		45.5	215^th of 329 public elementary schools	34.7%	45	25.9	29.5	28.6	$13,787
Jefferson School	Public	PK, KG-5	1023 Broadway	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 324-2060	247	14	17.5	11.3%	214 (86.6%)	1 (0.4%)	19 (7.7%)	2 (0.8%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.4%)	97.3	5^th of 332 public elementary schools	98.5%		98.2	6^th of 329 public elementary schools	98.2%	1	67.4	77.0	72.1	$13,437
Central School	Public	PK, KG-5	1325 Poplar	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 324-1230	284	21	13.3	41.5%	237 (83.5%)	4 (1.4%)	20 (7.0%)	1 (0.4%)	17 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	57.9	154^th of 332 public elementary schools	53.6%		78.8	79^th of 329 public elementary schools	76.0%	75	38.7	49.7	37.3	$15,562
Hawthorne School	Public	PK, KG-5	430 Madison Avenue	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 324-1370	210	14	15.0	12.9%	174 (82.9%)	1 (0.5%)	16 (7.6%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.8%)	65.8	120^th of 332 public elementary schools	63.9%		70.4	116^th of 329 public elementary schools	64.7%	4	49.5	52.7	35.7	$13,655
Broadwater School	Public	PK, KG-5	900 Hollins	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 324-1130	247	17	14.8	44.5%	203 (82.2%)	4 (1.6%)	21 (8.5%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.8%)	58.2	152^nd of 332 public elementary schools	54.2%		34.7	253^rd of 329 public elementary schools	23.1%	101	33.9	45.5	46.9	$14,023
Four Georgians School	Public	PK, KG-5	555 Custer Avenue	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 324-1300	459	27	17.0	18.3%	389 (84.7%)	4 (0.9%)	34 (7.4%)	6 (1.3%)	11 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (3.1%)	81.8	56^th of 332 public elementary schools	83.1%		76.1	88^th of 329 public elementary schools	73.3%	32	47.7	56.7	60.3	$12,106
Kessler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2420 Choteau Street	Helena	59601	Lewis and Clark County	Helena Elementary	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(406) 324-1700	248	17	14.3	21.0%	208 (83.9%)	4 (1.6%)	25 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	42.4	216^th of 332 public elementary schools	34.9%		55.6	171^st of 329 public elementary schools	48.0%	45	27.6	36.2	40.5	$13,004
Radley Elementary School	Public	3-5	226 E Clinton	East Helena	59635	Lewis and Clark County	East Helena K-12	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 227-7710	421	23	18.1	40.6%	352 (83.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.4%)								(n/a)
Prickly Pear Elementary	Public	1-2	2520 Valley Drive	East Helena	59635	Lewis and Clark County	East Helena K-12	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(406) 227-7700	285	18	16.1	44.6%	237 (83.2%)	1 (0.4%)	21 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	1 (0.4%)	18 (6.3%)								(n/a)				$11,531

Frequently Asked Questions about Smith School

What schools do graduates of Smith School attend?

Students who attend Smith School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Helena Middle School
High : Helena High School

Is Smith School a good school?

Smith School ranks 105^th of 332 Montana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Smith School in?

Helena Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Smith School?

Students at Smith School are 70% White, 23% Hispanic, 3% American Indian, 2% Two or more races, 2% African American.

How many students attend Smith School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 292 students attended Smith School.

Rate Smith School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.