- Enrollment
- 1,293
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Helena, MT
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 301383000430
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 0
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 Montana median. It is also one of the largest schools in Montana.
- #5 of 15
- public schools in Helena · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.2:1
- students per teacher
- 979
- students enrolled
Helena High School has class sizes near the Montana median. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Helena High School ranks #5 of 15 public schools in Helena, MT.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Helena High School held near 1,087 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 81.0 → 74.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 301383000430 · Helena, MT High · MID · TRAD
979 enr · 12.2:1 · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Capital High School (1,293 students)
Helena High School held near 1,087 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 81.0 → 74.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
How Helena High School compares
Helena High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.2:1 | ▲ 3% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 979 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
979
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 50% in Montana - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
47.6%
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
$13,044
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 245 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
89
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 83.6%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Two or More 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.2%
African American 1.5%
Asian 1.2%
Largest group: White at 83.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.4, Helena High School is more mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Helena H S reports $13,044 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher 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
Similar high schools in Helena
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~979 students)
Frequently asked questions about Helena High School
How many students attend Helena High School?
Helena High School has 979 students enrolled. It is a high school in Helena, MT. CCD year-over-year: 1,087 (2022-23) → 1,087 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helena High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Helena High School is 12.2:1, which is 3% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 22% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Helena High School?
The largest demographic group at Helena High School is White at 83.6% of enrollment, in Helena, MT.
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 #5 of 15 public 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 public schools in Helena on the city page.
What other schools are in Helena H S?
Besides Helena High School, Helena H S also operates Capital High School (1,293 students). See the Helena H S district page for the complete list.