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#303 of 603 schools in MT

Capital High School

High School · Helena H S · Helena, MT

A Helena H S high school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1325 Poplar Street, Helena, MT 59601

  • Math 36% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 43% proficient (2022)
  • 90.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data11
Annual Change-2.56 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.9Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency36% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency43% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency40% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-9.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile42th
College Readiness5.6Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate90%
AP Participation23%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.2Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.1:1
District spending per student$13,044
Chronic Absenteeism32%

Students at Capital High School score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.

Math Proficiency36%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency43%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 40% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 11 years
2009
Math
56%
ELA
74%
2010
Math
58%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
56%
ELA
83%
2012
Math
55%
ELA
83%
2016
Math
39%
ELA
61%
2017
Math
40%
ELA
56%
2018
Math
38%
ELA
54%
2019
Math
38%
ELA
54%
2020*
Math
33%
ELA
53%
2021*
Math
33%
ELA
53%
2022
Math
36%
ELA
43%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 22 test records from MT state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

16.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Capital High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 25Car-Dependent
  • Bike 30Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,105/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Helena), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$70,502

Median home value

$355,000

Median rent

$1,023/mo

College educated

50.9%

Homeownership

56.8%

Poverty rate

9.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 59601; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
23% participation·State avg: 2 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics18sports offered
9 boys'·9 girls'·38 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
St Andrew SchoolPrivate · tuition6.2privatePK–121.3 mi218Compare →
Helena High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.19–121.9 mi1,087Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Helena H S

Schools in district
2
Rank in district
#1 of 2
District spending per student
$13,044NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
5.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

Capital High School is listed in Helena H S; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Capital High School

Capital High School is a public high school in Helena, MT, part of Helena H S, serving approximately 1,367 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #303 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Capital High School

What grades does Capital High School serve?

Capital High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Capital High School?

Capital High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,367 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Capital High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Capital High School is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Capital High School rank in MT?

Capital High School ranks #303 of 603 schools in MT.

What is Capital High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Capital High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Capital High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Capital High School has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Capital High School a charter school?

No, Capital High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Capital High School a Title I school?

No, Capital High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Capital High School?

16.4% of students at Capital High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,367
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
85
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Lewis and Clark County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.0%
4-Year Graduation
90.0%
Area population (ZIP 59601)
31,822
Area average commute
13.9 min
Area median age
41.1
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 59601; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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