St Helens Sd 502, OR - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on St Helens Sd 502

StHelens SD 502 is a public school district in Oregon’s Columbia County, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It operates several elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and alternative programs. The district’s enrollment is moderate for a county system of this type, and the student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic minority and small shares of other racial and ethnic groups. Data on the share of students from low-income households, those with disabilities, and English learners were not reported, so a full view of the district’s support needs is incomplete.

Academically, the district’s performance on state assessments is modest. On the Smarter Balanced tests for math and English language arts, across grades three through eight, the proportion of students reaching the proficient level is below what many families would consider strong. In math in particular, proficiency rates are low, with especially small shares of students meeting the standard in the middle grades. English language arts results show somewhat higher but still limited proficiency, with the best numbers appearing in fifth grade. Science scores, available for grades five and eight, are similarly low. When placed beside the other three districts in Columbia County, St Helens SD 502’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint, meaning it trails more than half of its neighbors in this measure. High school assessment data were not part of the available information, and no graduation rate was reported, leaving the full picture of secondary outcomes unclear. Families who place a high priority on test scores will want to ask the district directly about its academic support and enrichment strategies.

A related area of concern is chronic absenteeism. The district’s rate of chronic absenteeism ranks above the midpoint among the county’s districts, meaning a substantial share of students miss enough school to affect learning. This is a pattern that can compound academic challenges, and a parent may want to ask what attendance interventions are in place. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range of the county’s districts, which may limit the scope of programs and services.

The data did not include information about specific course offerings such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual-credit pathways. Without that, it is not possible to assess what advanced or vocational opportunities are available to high school students. Similarly, discipline data and staffing ratios were absent, so the school environment cannot be fully characterized.

The housing market across the district’s area reflects a mix of towns, including Saint Helens, Columbia City, Rainier, Warren, Deer Island, and portions of Scappoose and Portland. Home values are somewhat below the Oregon state median but above the national figure, and prices have been relatively stable with a slight decline over the past year. Rental costs are moderate relative to typical incomes, and renting is generally more affordable than buying a home on a monthly basis. This suggests the area is moderately priced by state standards but still requires a solid income for homeownership.

No locale brief or district brief was provided, so there is no information about recent community changes, enrollment trends, or district initiatives such as bond measures or strategic plans. A family considering this district would benefit from visiting the district website and contacting individual schools to ask about academic supports, attendance efforts, and high school program offerings. The district’s size and setting may appeal to families who prefer a smaller, less diverse environment, but the academic and attendance data point to areas where improvement is needed. St Helens SD 502 is a district where the numbers tell a clear story of below-average performance and engagement, and that story deserves a direct conversation with the school system before a decision is made.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,808

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 12%

Black 1%

White 78%

Asian 1%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

22%

36%

Gr 4

12%

41%

Gr 5

37%

46%

Gr 6

19%

25%

Gr 7

20%

30%

Gr 8

17%

26%

Math

Gr 3

16%

35%

Gr 4

13%

35%

Gr 5

20%

Gr 6

12%

11%

Gr 7

12%

19%

Gr 8

15%

22%

Science

Gr 5

20%

23%

Gr 8

10%

25%

Schools in this District

8 schools are officially reported under this district.

Columbia City School

McBride Elementary School

St Helens Middle School

St Helens High School

Plymouth High School

St Helens Arthur Academy

St. Helens Virtual Academy

Lewis & Clark Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

28%

Grade 3

27%

Grade 4

20%

Grade 5

11%

Grade 6

17%

Grade 7

20%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

31%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

43%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 6

27%

Grade 7

23%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

22%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$477,129

Year-over-year change-0.4%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$420K to $705K

vs. state typical0.95x

vs. national typical1.30x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
97051	Saint Helens	$430K	-0.1%	60.4%
97054	Deer Island	$535K	-1.0%	28.7%
97053	Warren	$631K	-1.3%	5.6%
97231	Portland	$705K	-1.0%	1.8%
97048	Rainier	$420K	-0.5%	1.7%
97056	Scappoose	$493K	-1.4%	0.9%
97018	Columbia City	$485K	-0.8%	0.9%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,662/mo

Year-over-year change+1.9%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,658 to $1,895/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
97051	Saint Helens	$1,658	+1.9%	60.4%
97056	Scappoose	$1,895	—	0.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,408/mo

Home price / national median income5.7x

Annual rent / national median income23.8%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$746/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$501,661 (-0.7% 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

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.