Helena H S, MT - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Helena H S

Helena H S is a single high-school district in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, serving grades nine through twelve. The district operates two comprehensive high schools, Capital High School and Helena High School, as well as what appears to be an alternative program, Helena Project for Alternative Learning, and a recently listed entity called Mount Ascension Learning Academy. The district enrollment is sizable for a high-school-only system, with students distributed roughly evenly across the four grade levels.

Demographically, the student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races. There are modest representations of American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Black students. The district did not report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor did it report the proportion of students receiving special education services or English learner support. A parent investigating student support levels would want to ask the district directly about these figures.

State testing data for the 2024-2025 school year was suppressed. Montana administered a new assessment, the MAST, and also changed cut scores in both math and English language arts. Because of these back-to-back changes, the state did not release proficiency rates for the district. No trend data across prior years was available, so there is no way to gauge academic performance from state tests at this time. The neighbor comparison reflects this gap: overall proficiency is listed as not applicable because the district’s value is missing. The graduation rate was also missing from the data provided.

The one available comparison metric paints a mixed picture of student engagement. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate falls in the bottom quartile among Lewis and Clark County’s districts, meaning a higher share of students are missing substantial amounts of school than in most neighboring systems. At the same time, per-pupil current spending lands in the lower half of the county’s range, suggesting the district operates on a relatively lean budget compared with some peers.

The community context for Helena H S is shaped by Helena itself, the state capital, which is the largest city in Lewis and Clark County. Housing in the district spans a range of conditions, with values that have been rising moderately in recent years. Rental costs are moderate relative to the national benchmark. The economic backdrop includes a national unemployment rate that has been stable and around the typical level for a healthy economy, though that figure is not specific to the district’s labor market.

Publicly reported district news points to recent financial commitments from voters. In 2023, residents approved a bond for facility upgrades across the district, including roof replacements, HVAC improvements, security upgrades, and classroom additions at the high schools. That bond is expected to raise property taxes. The following year, voters approved general fund levies for both the elementary and high school districts, supporting staffing and operational costs. These levies add another layer of property tax increase for residents. Also in 2024, the district adopted a new K-5 English Language Arts curriculum aligned with the science of reading, though that change applies to the elementary grades, which are in a separate district.

For a family considering this district, the picture is constrained by the absence of state testing results. The academic profile of the high schools cannot be assessed from the official metrics available. What is measurable is a high rate of chronic absenteeism relative to county peers and a spending level that sits below the county median. The district has recent voter-approved funding for capital improvements, and the two comprehensive high schools give students a choice of school environment within the same system. A parent wanting a fuller academic picture would need to ask the district directly about internal assessments, college-going rates, and program availability.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,454

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 1%

White 85%

Asian 1%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 3%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Capital High School

Helena High School

Mount Ascension Learning Academy

Helena Project for Alternative Learning (P.A.L.)

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$483,227

Year-over-year change+4.2%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$362K to $530K

vs. state typical1.03x

vs. national typical1.31x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
59648	Wolf Creek	$465K	+5.6%	43.0%
59602	Helena	$530K	+2.8%	26.9%
59633	Canyon Creek	$504K	+3.5%	15.2%
59601	Helena	$437K	+3.1%	9.3%
59421	Cascade	$400K	+5.0%	2.2%
59639	Lincoln	$362K	+2.6%	1.6%
59635	East Helena	$430K	+1.8%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,877/mo

Year-over-year change+3.5%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,576 to $1,982/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
59602	Helena	$1,982	—	26.9%
59601	Helena	$1,576	+3.5%	9.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,438/mo

Home price / national median income5.8x

Annual rent / national median income26.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$561/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$467,919 (+1.3% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Academic Performance
Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.