Helke Early Learning Center

Helke Early Learning Center operates as a modestly sized primary school in Vandalia, Ohio, overseen by Vandalia-Butler City. Current enrollment sits at 310 students spanning grades pre-K through K. That puts it 23% smaller than the typical public school in Ohio, which averages around 404 students.

Vandalia-Butler City comprises 6 schools with combined enrollment of 3,018 students; Helke Early Learning Center is among them.

Demographically, Helke Early Learning Center shows that the largest single group is White, at 71% of enrollment; the rest is composed of 12% multiracial, 10% Black, 6% Hispanic. That composition is broadly in line with Montgomery County as a whole.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Helke Early Learning Center has 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 20.7:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 17.9:1, putting Helke Early Learning Center higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 37% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Across the wider county, census data for Montgomery County shows median household income runs about $66,139, 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. In all, Montgomery County runs 160 public schools (combined enrollment of about 74,487 students), of which Helke Early Learning Center is one.

Nearest neighbor: Vandalia-Butler Preschool, around 0.8 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a suburban area.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count edged down 17%: 373 students in 2018 compared to 310 in 2025. The White share of enrollment ticked down from 78% to 71% over that span.

Inside the community feed, members of the Helke Early Learning Center community share and discuss science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.