- Enrollment
- 962
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Helena, MT
Central School
Federal NCES profile for Central School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 300000500418
👥 S:T ratio 72
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Central School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Montana schools.
- #2 of 11
- schools in Helena · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 7.1:1
- small classes for Montana
- 242
- students enrolled
Central School has class sizes smaller than 83% of Montana schools. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Central School ranks #2 of 11 schools in Helena, MT.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-35 students YoY
Central School shrank from 319 students in 2022-23 to 284 in 2023-24 (-11.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 34.9 → 21.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-35 students YoY 300000500418 · Helena, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
242 enr · 7.1:1 · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: C R Anderson Middle Schl (962 students)
Central School shrank from 319 students in 2022-23 to 284 in 2023-24 (-11.0%). Teacher FTE lost 34.9 → 21.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Central School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- C R Anderson M
C R Anderson Middle Schl
962 students
- Helena Middle
Helena Middle School
701 students
- Four Georgians
Four Georgians School
482 students
- Jim Darcy Scho
Jim Darcy School
473 students
- Rossiter Schoo 369
Rossiter School
369 students
- This school 242
Central School
242 students
What this shows Central School reports 242 students on the CCD universe file.
How Central School compares
Central School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 7.1:1 | ▼ 40% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 242 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7.1:1
Leaner classes than 96% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
242
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
7.1:1
students per teacher
- 40% below state mean
Top 17% in Montana - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
65.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,752
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,859
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 242 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.5%
Hispanic or Latino 10.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.2%
Two or More 2.5%
Asian 1.7%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 78.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.8, Central School is more mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Helena Elem reports $13,752 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Central School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| C R Anderson Middle Schl | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Helena Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Four Georgians School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jim Darcy School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rossiter School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Central School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 701
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 482
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 473
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 369
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Helena
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Four Georgians School
Standard public school
482 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Jim Darcy School
Standard public school
473 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Rossiter School
Standard public school
369 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Bryant School
Standard public school
288 students 16:1 students per teacher
Warren School
Standard public school
276 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Jefferson School
Standard public school
245 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~242 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~7.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Central School
How many students attend Central School?
Central School has 242 students enrolled. It is a public school in Helena, MT. CCD year-over-year: 319 (2022-23) → 284 (2023-24), down 35.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central School is 7.1:1, which is 40% lower than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 55% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Central School?
The largest demographic group at Central School is White at 78.5% of enrollment, in Helena, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Central School?
Central School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Central School rank among schools in Helena?
By Resource Investment Index, Central School ranks #2 of 11 schools in Helena, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Helena on the city page.
What other schools are in Helena Elem?
Besides Central School, Helena Elem also operates C R Anderson Middle Schl (962 students), Helena Middle School (701 students), and Four Georgians School (482 students). See the Helena Elem district page for the complete list.