Enrollment
217
Elementary
DISTRICT 285 · STATE 167
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·HELENA ELEM·NCES 300000500425
Smith School
2320 5th Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 · (406) 324-1530 · Lewis and Clark County
GRADES PK–05ELEMENTARY13-CITYREGULAR SCHOOL217 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
13.5:1
16 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 15.6:1 · STATE 11.9:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
35%
77 students
DISTRICT 40% · STATE 58%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade
Student demographics
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
EDFacts (federal) 2020-21 . % Proficient (SY 20-21)English Language Arts
52.0%
MT avg 47.2%
Math
42.0%
MT avg 36.0%
What this means: On the EDFacts (federal), Montana's statewide test, about 52 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 42 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Montana schools, those numbers are about 47 and 36.
Source: EDFacts (federal). All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
7-year change
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
217
-103 (-32%) vs 2017
Student : Teacher
13.5:1
was 15.8:1
% White
71%
was 84%
% Hispanic
22%
was 3%
% Black
3%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
About Smith School
Smith School operates as a reasonably sized K-5 school in Helena, Montana, operated by Helena Elem. Current enrollment sits at 217 students spanning grades pre-K through 5. By comparison, Montana's public schools average about 167 students each, so Smith School sits 30% above that benchmark.
Helena Elem runs 15 schools in total, collectively educating 5,100 students. Smith School is one of those campuses.
For racial and ethnic makeup, Smith School records that 71% of the student body identifies as White. Other groups include 22% Hispanic, 3% Black, 2% Native American. By comparison, Lewis and Clark County as a whole is about 91% White, so the school skews considerably less White than its surroundings.
In terms of school funding signals, Staff filings list 16 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 13.5:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.9:1, putting Smith School higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 35% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.
In the broader community, Lewis and Clark County reports that median household income runs about $78,237, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Lewis and Clark County runs 36 public schools (combined enrollment of about 9,786 students), of which Smith School is one.
Nearest neighbor: Bryant School, around 1.0 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Smith School.
Geographically, the school is in a downtown area.
Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count declined 32%: 320 students in 2018 compared to 217 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 3% to 22% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 15.8:1 in 2018 to 13.5:1 today.
On allk12, the feed for Smith School typically covers enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.
Lewis and Clark County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
73,464
Census ACS
Median income
$78,237
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
43%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
3%
Below federal line
Schools in county
36
9,786 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Helena Elem
- C R Anderson Middle SchlMiddle · 962 students
- Helena Middle SchoolMiddle · 701 students
- Four Georgians SchoolElementary · 482 students
- Jim Darcy SchoolElementary · 473 students
- Rossiter SchoolElementary · 369 students
- Bryant SchoolElementary · 288 students
Other schools in Helena
- Capital High SchoolHigh · 1,293 students
- Helena High SchoolHigh · 979 students
- C R Anderson Middle SchlMiddle · 962 students
- Helena Middle SchoolMiddle · 701 students
- Four Georgians SchoolElementary · 482 students
- Jim Darcy SchoolElementary · 473 students
Nearby schools
- Bryant School1.0 mi · 288
- Helena High School1.1 mi · 979
- Jefferson School1.2 mi · 245
- Helena Middle School1.4 mi · 701
- Mount Ascension Learning Ac HS1.5 mi · 43
- Helena Montessori Charter Schl1.5 mi · 198
Frequently asked questions
About Smith SchoolHow many students attend Smith School?
Smith School enrolls approximately 217 students in grades PK-05.
What grades does Smith School serve?
Smith School serves grades PK-05.
How many teachers does Smith School have?
Smith School employs 16 FTE teachers, for a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.
How diverse is Smith School?
Smith School reports a student body of 71% White, 22% Hispanic, 3% Black, 1% Asian, 2% Two or more.
Who oversees Smith School?
Smith School is overseen by Helena Elem in Lewis and Clark County.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.