Average
#326 of 603 schools in MT
Kessler Elementary School
Elementary School · Helena Elem · Helena, MT
A Helena Elem elementary school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1325 Poplar Street, Helena, MT 59601
- Math 32% proficient (2022)
- Reading 47% proficient (2022)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Kessler Elementary School score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MT average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2019, to 40% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 58% (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
21%
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 Kessler Elementary 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 21Car-Dependent
- Bike 33Somewhat 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
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–12 | 0.5 mi | 218 | Compare → |
| Broadwater SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 247 | Compare → |
| Hawthorne SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | PK–5 | 1.7 mi | 210 | Compare → |
| Bloom Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–1 | 2.0 mi | 13 | 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
- #10 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
Kessler Elementary School is listed in Helena Elem; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Kessler Elementary School
Kessler Elementary School is a public elementary school in Helena, MT, part of Helena Elem, serving approximately 248 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #326 of 603 schools in MT. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Kessler Elementary School
What grades does Kessler Elementary School serve?
Kessler Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Kessler Elementary School?
Kessler Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 248 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kessler Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kessler Elementary School is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Kessler Elementary School rank in MT?
Kessler Elementary School ranks #326 of 603 schools in MT.
What is Kessler Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Kessler Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 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 Kessler Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Kessler Elementary School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Kessler Elementary School a charter school?
No, Kessler Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Kessler Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Kessler Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Kessler Elementary School?
21.0% of students at Kessler Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 248
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Lewis and Clark County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.3%
- Phone
- (406) 324-1700
- 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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