Dept of Corrections-Youth

Headquartered at 5 S. Last Chance Gulch in Helena, Montana, the Department of Corrections-Youth operates as a specialized, state-administered educational agency serving middle and high school students. Situated within a rural fringe setting in the state's capital region, this active public district oversees two operational facilities structured to offer academic instruction for grades six through twelve. Designed to deliver targeted secondary education under state oversight rather than through a traditional local school structure, the district ensures continuous educational access and structured academic pathways for youth within the system.

Data from the 2024–2025 NCES dataset highlights a specialized learning environment serving a dedicated population of 30 young men, with active enrollment concentrated across grades eight through twelve and the largest group attending tenth grade. The student body is demographically diverse, featuring equal representation among American Indian and White students, alongside youth of multiracial and Hispanic heritage. To address the complex needs of its student body, the district benefits from a remarkably low student-to-educator ratio, driven by a staff of 18.26 full-time equivalent teachers, 1.5 instructional aides, and several support specialists, bringing total district personnel to 26.5 full-time equivalent positions. This high level of staffing support enables educators and researchers to observe a model centered on intensive, individualized instruction and focused academic intervention.