Total enrollment
9,786
+259 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Lewis and Clark County
Montana · Public K-12
Lewis and Clark County operates 36 public K-12 schools inside Montana, with combined enrollment of approximately 9,786 (about 272 students per school). By grade band, the county runs 21 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools.
4-year change in Lewis and Clark County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
35
+6 (+21%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Lewis and Clark County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Montana | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 9,786 | #6 of 29 | #834 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 35 | #6 of 29 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.8:1 | #28 of 29 | #2,017 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 37.9% | #25 of 29 | #2,174 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 28.1% | #15 of 29 | #1,865 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Lewis and Clark County school rankings
Residents
73,464
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
36
9 districts
Enrollment
9,786
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$78,237
Above Montana avg
Free/reduced lunch
37.9%
Below Montana avg
Elementary
21
4,509 students
Middle
7
2,205 students
High
8
3,072 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Helena Elem
5,100 students · 9 districts in Lewis and Clark County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lewis and Clark County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
43.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.2% under 18
Test scores in Lewis and Clark County
Latest 2020-21 ELA proficiency, 19 schools ranked. Montana state average: 47.2%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Jefferson School· 82.0%
- Augusta Elementary School· 64.5%
- Broadwater School· 57.0%
- C R Anderson Middle Schl· 56.0%
- Helena High School· 56.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Bryant School· 27.0%
- East Valley Middle School· 40.0%
- Central School· 42.0%
- Kessler Elementary School· 42.0%
- Helena Middle School· 45.0%
See all 19 schools in Lewis and Clark County ranked by score →
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital High School | Helena | High | 09-12 | 1,293 | · |
| Helena High School | Helena | High | 09-12 | 979 | · |
| C R Anderson Middle Schl | Helena | Middle | 06-08 | 962 | · |
| Helena Middle School | Helena | Middle | 06-08 | 701 | · |
| East Helena High School | East Helena | High | 09-12 | 563 | · |
| Four Georgians School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 482 | · |
| Jim Darcy School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 473 | · |
| East Valley Middle School | East Helena | Middle | 06-08 | 471 | · |
| Radley Elementary School | East Helena | Elementary | 03-05 | 428 | · |
| Rossiter School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 369 | · |
| Bryant School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 288 | · |
| Warren School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 276 | · |
| Prickly Pear Elem | East Helena | Elementary | 01-02 | 269 | · |
| Jefferson School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 245 | · |
| Central School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 242 | · |
| Kessler Elementary School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 235 | · |
| Smith School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 217 | · |
| Broadwater School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 207 | · |
| Helena Montessori Charter Schl | Helena | Elementary | KG-05 | 198 | · |
| Hawthorne School | Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 183 | · |
| Eastgate School | East Helena | Elementary | PK-KG | 161 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Lincoln | Elementary | PK-06 | 88 | · |
| Augusta Elementary School | Augusta | Elementary | PK-08 | 85 | · |
| 227 Academy- HS | East Helena | High | 09-12 | 59 | · |
| Helena P.A.L. | Helena | High | 09-12 | 58 | · |
| Lincoln High School | Lincoln | High | 09-12 | 44 | · |
| Mount Ascension Learning Ac HS | Helena | High | 09-12 | 43 | · |
| Trinity School | Canyon Creek | Elementary | PK-08 | 43 | · |
| Augusta High School | Augusta | High | 09-12 | 33 | · |
| Mount Ascension Learning Ac MS | Helena | Middle | 06-08 | 22 | · |
| 227 Academy- middle school | East Helena | Middle | 06-08 | 21 | · |
| Lincoln 7-8 | Lincoln | Middle | 07-08 | 15 | · |
| Auchard Creek School | Wolf Creek | Elementary | PK-08 | 13 | · |
| Augusta 7-8 | Augusta | Middle | 07-08 | 13 | · |
| Wolf Creek School | Wolf Creek | Elementary | PK-06 | 7 | · |
| Mount Ascension Learning Ac EL | Helena | Elementary | KG-05 | 0 | · |
Cities in Lewis and Clark County
About Lewis and Clark County
Across the average-sized Montana county of Lewis and Clark County of about 73,464 residents, the public-school footprint covers 36 schools and about 9,786 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $78,237, about 43% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 3%. That income level is 20% above the Montana median.
On the school-mix side, Lewis and Clark County consists of 21 elementary schools (4,509 students), 7 middle schools (2,205), and 8 high schools (3,072).
Helena Elem dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 5,100 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 3%: 9,527 students in SY 2020-21 versus 9,786 in SY 2024-25. Lewis and Clark County now counts 35 public schools, up from 29 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Lewis and Clark County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data