- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Helena, AL
Helena High School
Federal NCES profile for Helena High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010303002191
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Helena High School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Helena · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18:1
- students per teacher
- 24.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Helena High School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Helena High School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Helena, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Helena High School held near 1,419 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 77.0 → 78.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 010303002191 · Helena, AL High · MID · TRAD
1,383 enr · 18:1 · 24.0% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students)
Helena High School held near 1,419 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 77.0 → 78.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Helena High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Oak Mountain H
Oak Mountain High School
1,648 students
- This school
Helena High School
1,383 students
- Chelsea High S
Chelsea High School
1,235 students
- Oak Mountain M
Oak Mountain Middle School
1,168 students
- Calera High
Calera High
1,018 students
- Helena Middle
Helena Middle
957 students
What this shows Helena High School reports 1,383 students on the CCD universe file.
How Helena High School compares
Helena High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 2% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.0% | ▼ 59% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,383 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,383
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 60% in Alabama - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,436
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 461 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
96
in-school suspensions + 67 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 9 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 69.5%
African American 16.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Two or More 2.7%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 69.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.0, Helena High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 18
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Shelby County reports $12,436 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Helena High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Mountain High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chelsea High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oak Mountain Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Calera High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Helena Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Helena High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,235
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,168
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,018
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 957
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Nationwide high 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 (~1,383 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18:1)
Frequently asked questions about Helena High School
How many students attend Helena High School?
Helena High School has 1,383 students enrolled. It is a high school in Helena, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,418 (2022-23) → 1,419 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helena High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Helena High School is 18:1, which is 2% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Helena High School?
24.0% of students at Helena High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Helena High School?
The largest demographic group at Helena High School is White at 69.5% of enrollment, in Helena, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Helena High School?
Helena High School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Helena High School rank among public schools in Helena?
By Resource Investment Index, Helena High School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Helena, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Shelby County?
Besides Helena High School, Shelby County also operates Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students), Chelsea High School (1,235 students), and Oak Mountain Middle School (1,168 students). See the Shelby County district page for the complete list.