Average
#250 of 603 schools in MT
Top 41% in state
Helena Middle School
Middle School · Helena Elem · Helena, MT
A Helena Elem middle school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1325 Poplar Street, Helena, MT 59601
- Math 34% proficient (2022)
- Reading 47% proficient (2022)
- 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Helena Middle School score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 41% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 61% (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 26 test records from MT state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
29.7%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Helena Middle 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 85Very Walkable
- Bike 71Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,105/100K
Powered by
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
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IntermountainPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 4–8 | 1.3 mi | 24 | Compare → |
| C R Anderson Middle SchlEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | 6–8 | 1.4 mi | 1,016 | Compare → |
| St Andrew SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–12 | 2.1 mi | 218 | Compare → |
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 Elem
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #8 of 13
- District spending per student
- $13,752NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Helena Middle School is listed in Helena Elem; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Helena Middle School
Helena Middle School is a public middle school in Helena, MT, part of Helena Elem, serving approximately 671 students in grades 6th-8th with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #250 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Helena Middle School
What grades does Helena Middle School serve?
Helena Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Helena Middle School?
Helena Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 671 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helena Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Helena Middle School is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Helena Middle School rank in MT?
Helena Middle School ranks #250 of 603 schools in MT.
What is Helena Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Helena Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 Helena Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Helena Middle School has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Helena Middle School a charter school?
No, Helena Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Helena Middle School a Title I school?
No, Helena Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Helena Middle School?
29.7% of students at Helena Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 671
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 43
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Lewis and Clark County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.7%
- Phone
- (406) 324-1000
- 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
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