Rossiter School

Rossiter School is a sprawling elementary school in Helena, Montana, operated by Helena Elem. The school instructs 369 students in grades pre-K through 5. Enrollment runs roughly 121% larger than the state mean of about 167.

Helena Elem comprises 15 schools with combined enrollment of 5,100 students; Rossiter School is among them.

Looking at the student body, Rossiter School reports that nearly all students (84%) are White; the rest breaks down as 11% Hispanic, 2% Black.

On the resource side, On paper, Rossiter School has 21 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.9:1, putting Rossiter School higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 36% of students at Rossiter School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

In the broader community, census data for Lewis and Clark County shows median household earnings sit near $78,237, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 3%. Across Lewis and Clark County's 36 public schools (combined enrollment of about 9,786 students), Rossiter School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Jim Darcy School, roughly 3.1 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a bedroom-community area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count declined 22%: 471 students in 2018 compared to 369 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 2% to 11% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 19.4:1 in 2018 to 17.4:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.