Helena P.A.L.

Helena P.A.L. is a micro-enrollment senior high in Helena, Montana, run under Helena H S. The school works with 58 students in grades 9 through 12. Compared to the state average of about 238 students per school, that is 76% below typical.

Across the 4 schools in Helena H S (2,373 students total), Helena P.A.L. accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

In terms of who attends, Helena P.A.L. shows that White students make up the majority at 79%. The remainder is composed of 9% multiracial, 5% Hispanic, 3% Native American. By comparison, Lewis and Clark County as a whole is about 91% White, so the school skews visibly less White than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, The school currently runs with 7 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 8.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.3:1, putting Helena P.A.L. tighter than the state norm the norm. About 55% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Lewis and Clark County (around 38%), the school's rate is north of typical.

Zooming out to the county, the surrounding county (Lewis and Clark County) shows that the typical household earns roughly $78,237 per year, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 3%. Helena P.A.L. is one of 36 public schools in Lewis and Clark County (combined enrollment of about 9,786 students).

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

The school occupies a city-core site.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.