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Helena High School

Summary:

Helena High School is a public high school serving 1,087 students in grades 9-12 in Helena, Montana. The school is part of the Helena High School District, which is ranked 53 out of 300 districts in the state and rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Helena High School has consistently strong academic performance, with a higher percentage of students proficient or better in Mathematics, Reading, and Science compared to the state average. In the 2022-2023 school year, 61.9% of students were proficient or better in Reading, compared to the state average of 46.03%. The school also has a more diverse student population than nearby Capital High School, with 80.31% White students compared to 87.53% at Capital High. Additionally, Helena High School maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 13.4, lower than the nearby East Helena High School (18.2) and Capital High School (16.1).

While Helena High School has consistently ranked in the top 30 high schools in Montana, its statewide ranking has declined from 18th in 2018-2019 to 34th in 2022-2023, indicating increasing competition from other high-performing schools in the state. Compared to nearby schools, East Helena High School has lower academic performance, while Capital High School outperforms Helena High School on some metrics, such as Mathematics and Science proficiency. Overall, Helena High School remains a well-performing school with a diverse student population and a strong focus on academic achievement.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1300 Billings Avenue
       Helena, MT  59601

(406) 324-2200

District: Helena High School

SchoolDigger Rank:
34th of 124 Montana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,857 Help


Feeder schools for Helena High School:

Elementary:    Bryant School
    Central School
    Eastgate School
    Jefferson School
    More...
Middle:    East Valley Middle School
    Helena Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.6 Help
Number of students:  1,087

Racial breakdown:

White:
82.5%
Hispanic:
6.3%
Two or more races:
5.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  20% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Helena High School ranks better than 72.6% of high schools in Montana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 59.08. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (82.5%), Hispanic (6.3%), two or more races (5.2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 20% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Helena High School is 14.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Helena High School employs 74.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Helena High School is $13,857.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Helena High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Helena High School 34th of 124 Montana public high schools. (See Helena High School in the ranking list.)

Helena High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Helena High School 53rd of 300 Montana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Helena High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MT State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 63.73 58th 137 57.7%
2005 63.02 58th 142 59.2%
2006 55.15 73rd 138 47.1%
2007 47.19 92nd 136 32.4%
2008 56.87 68th 139 51.1%
2009 53.44 70th 135 48.1%
2010 55.22 72nd 135 46.7%
2011 42.16 87th 122 28.7%
2012 42.58 91st 129 29.5%
2013 55.52 65th 128 49.2%
2016 80.37 16th 113 85.8%
2017 72.15 21st 111 81.1%
2018 76.01 19th 119 84.0%
2019 76.65 18th 119 84.9%
2021 70.52 19th 138 86.2%
2022 43.79 29th 114 74.6%
2023 59.08 34th 124 72.6%
See the entire list of Montana High School Rankings!

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

Helena High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Montana Office of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Helena High School

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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 1331 1331
1991 1343 2 1 0 24 n/a n/a 0 1370
1992 1344 2 3 7 24 n/a n/a 0 1380
1993 1344 3 8 12 61 n/a n/a 0 1428
1994 1427 1 7 21 63 n/a n/a 0 1519
1995 1491 3 12 22 82 n/a n/a 0 1610
1996 1491 3 12 22 82 n/a n/a 0 1610
1997 1427 2 13 23 89 n/a n/a 0 1554
1998 1539 2 14 22 96 n/a n/a 0 1673
1999 1559 2 14 20 99 n/a n/a 0 1694
2000 1596 2 12 20 103 n/a n/a 0 1733
2001 1726 4 5 5 65 n/a n/a 0 1805
2002 1611 4 26 14 75 n/a n/a 0 1730
2003 1611 4 26 14 75 n/a n/a 0 1730
2004 1513 7 37 33 88 n/a n/a 0 1678
2005 1462 5 24 36 88 n/a n/a 0 1615
2006 1452 7 29 38 97 n/a n/a 0 1623
2007 1477 9 23 32 89 n/a n/a 0 1630
2008 1477 11 11 31 77 n/a n/a 0 1607
2009 1434 13 12 27 83 n/a n/a 0 1569
2010 1482 16 17 35 92 n/a n/a 0 1642
2011 1487 17 13 41 92 5 0 0 1655
2012 1433 12 15 30 109 4 0 0 1603
2013 1442 18 14 41 102 6 0 0 1623
2014 1412 25 12 35 110 5 8 0 1607
2015 1386 26 9 43 97 5 16 0 1582
2016 1413 31 16 47 82 4 29 0 1622
2017 1373 28 11 43 86 2 31 0 1574
2018 1301 15 15 71 55 3 63 0 1523
2019 1307 10 18 74 44 1 84 0 1538
2020 1080 10 13 132 40 1 64 0 1340
2021 986 13 13 150 33 1 58 0 1254
2022 906 16 12 113 38 0 43 0 1128
2023 873 15 11 108 30 0 50 0 1087
2024 897 17 13 69 34 0 57 0 1087

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 Helena High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 1331 79.4 16.7 12
1991 1370 78.6 17.4 6.2
1992 1380 74.5 18.5 4.6
1993 1428 77.5 18.4 6.2
1994 1519 89.5 17.0 4.6
1995 1610 86.4 18.6 3.8
1996 1610 86.4 18.6 3.8
1997 1554 101.4 15.3 6
1998 1673 101.4 16.5 5.2
1999 1694 106.4 15.9 9.7
2000 1733 105.8 16.4 9.3
2001 1805 104.1 17.3 8.6
2002 1730 110.6 15.6 9.9
2003 1730 110.6 15.6 9.9
2004 1678 109.9 15.3 11.5
2005 1615 106.6 15.2 13.9
2006 1623 104.6 15.5 14.5
2007 1630 102.6 15.9 16.9
2008 1607 103.9 15.5 14.9
2009 1569 101.6 15.4 20.7
2010 1642 108.4 15.1 15.2
2011 1655 109.5 15.1 21.6
2012 1603 106.3 15.0 17.8
2013 1623 106.2 15.2 26.2
2014 1607 102.5 15.6 27.6
2015 1582 104.0 15.2 27.6
2016 1622 105.0 15.4 28.9
2017 1574 105.1 14.9 25
2018 1523 102.4 14.8 24
2019 1538 103.5 14.8 20.4
2020 1340 99.6 13.4 23.8
2021 1254 93.6 13.3 n/a
2022 1128 92.9 12.1 n/a
2023 1087 80.9 13.4 n/a
2024 1087 74.3 14.6 20

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 Helena High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 1331 79.4 16.7 12
1991 1370 78.6 17.4 6.2
1992 1380 74.5 18.5 4.6
1993 1428 77.5 18.4 6.2
1994 1519 89.5 17.0 4.6
1995 1610 86.4 18.6 3.8
1996 1610 86.4 18.6 3.8
1997 1554 101.4 15.3 6
1998 1673 101.4 16.5 5.2
1999 1694 106.4 15.9 9.7
2000 1733 105.8 16.4 9.3
2001 1805 104.1 17.3 8.6
2002 1730 110.6 15.6 9.9
2003 1730 110.6 15.6 9.9
2004 1678 109.9 15.3 11.5
2005 1615 106.6 15.2 13.9
2006 1623 104.6 15.5 14.5
2007 1630 102.6 15.9 16.9
2008 1607 103.9 15.5 14.9
2009 1569 101.6 15.4 20.7
2010 1642 108.4 15.1 15.2
2011 1655 109.5 15.1 21.6
2012 1603 106.3 15.0 17.8
2013 1623 106.2 15.2 26.2
2014 1607 102.5 15.6 27.6
2015 1582 104.0 15.2 27.6
2016 1622 105.0 15.4 28.9
2017 1574 105.1 14.9 25
2018 1523 102.4 14.8 24
2019 1538 103.5 14.8 20.4
2020 1340 99.6 13.4 23.8
2021 1254 93.6 13.3 n/a
2022 1128 92.9 12.1 n/a
2023 1087 80.9 13.4 n/a
2024 1087 74.3 14.6 20

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 Helena High School

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $9,606
2021 $12,396
2022 $14,067
2023 $13,857

Data source: Montana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Helena High 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 18th of 119 High schoolsRanks 34th of 124 High schools
 12.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students15381087
 29.3%
African American1015
 50%
American Indian4430
 31.8%
Asian1811
 38.9%
Hispanic74108
 45.9%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White1307873
 33.2%
Two or More Races8450
 40.5%

Schools Near Helena High School








Frequently Asked Questions about Helena High School

Helena High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bryant School
Elementary : Central School
Elementary : Eastgate School
Elementary : Jefferson School
Elementary : Prickly Pear Elementary
Elementary : Radley Elementary School
Elementary : Smith School
Elementary : Warren School
Middle : East Valley Middle School
Middle : Helena Middle School

Students at Helena High School are 83% White, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% American Indian, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,087 students attended Helena High School.

Helena High School ranks 34th of 124 Montana high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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Schools in Helena, MT

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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.




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