Helena Elem

Helena Elem is a town-based K-12 district in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, serving 5,225 students across 13 schools comprising 11 elementary and 2 middle schools. The district experienced modest enrollment growth of 0.8% in the prior year, indicating relative stability in student population. With 338 teachers on staff, the district maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

The district's financial profile reflects a significant gap relative to state benchmarks. Per-pupil spending stands at $6,890, substantially below Montana's state average of $11,207. This represents approximately 61% of the state average spending level. The total operating budget is $75.2 million, with revenue distributed across federal sources (17.9%), state funding (38.1%), and local revenue (44.0%). The reliance on local funding at 44% indicates a moderately high dependence on community-based revenue streams compared to state support.

The district's structure is oriented toward elementary education, with 11 of 13 schools serving grades K-6 and two middle schools for older students. This configuration reflects typical organizational patterns for town-based districts. The combination of modest enrollment growth and constrained per-pupil spending relative to state averages suggests the district operates within resource limitations that may affect program offerings and facility investments compared to better-funded districts statewide.