- Enrollment
- 962
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Helena, MT
Kessler Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Kessler Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 300000500337
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Kessler Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Montana median.
- #5 of 11
- schools in Helena · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- students per teacher
- 235
- students enrolled
Kessler Elementary School has class sizes near the Montana median. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Kessler Elementary School ranks #5 of 11 schools in Helena, MT.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Kessler Elementary School held near 248 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 17.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 300000500337 · Helena, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
235 enr · 12.4:1 · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: C R Anderson Middle Schl (962 students)
Kessler Elementary School held near 248 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 17.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Kessler Elementary 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 235
Kessler Elementary School
235 students
What this shows Kessler Elementary School reports 235 students on the CCD universe file.
How Kessler Elementary School compares
Kessler Elementary 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 | 12.4:1 | ▲ 5% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 235 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
235
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 53% in Montana - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
46.8%
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 235 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 85.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.0%
African American 2.1%
Two or More 1.3%
Largest group: White at 85.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.1, Kessler Elementary 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 Kessler Elementary 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 Kessler Elementary 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 (~235 students)
Frequently asked questions about Kessler Elementary School
How many students attend Kessler Elementary School?
Kessler Elementary School has 235 students enrolled. It is a public school in Helena, MT. CCD year-over-year: 238 (2022-23) → 248 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kessler Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kessler Elementary School is 12.4:1, which is 5% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 21% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Kessler Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Kessler Elementary School is White at 85.5% of enrollment, in Helena, MT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Kessler Elementary School?
Kessler Elementary 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 Kessler Elementary School rank among schools in Helena?
By Resource Investment Index, Kessler Elementary School ranks #5 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 Kessler Elementary 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.