Central School

Set in Helena, Montana, Central School is a mid-sized elementary school, one of the schools within Helena Elem. It teaches 242 students across grades pre-K through 5. That puts it 45% above the typical public school in Montana, which averages around 167 students.

Within Helena Elem, which oversees 15 schools and 5,100 students, Central School is one campus in the system.

On the student-mix side, Central School records that 79% of the student body identifies as White. The remainder comes out to 10% Hispanic, 6% Native American, 2% multiracial. That is meaningfully less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 91%.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Central School has 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.9:1, putting Central School higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 60% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Lewis and Clark County (around 38%), the school's rate is north of typical.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Lewis and Clark County put median household income runs about $78,237, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 3%. Central School is one of 36 public schools in Lewis and Clark County (combined enrollment of about 9,786 students).

Helena P.A.L. is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.4 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Central School.

The campus sits in an inner-city setting.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count showed little movement: 241 students in 2018 compared to 242 in 2025. The White share of enrollment decreased from 87% to 79% over that span. Class-load math has grew: from 12.3:1 in 2018 to 13.9:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, members of the Central School community share and discuss school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.