Central School

central.helenaschools.org

242 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Central School, located at 1325 Poplar in Helena, Montana, is a prominent historic site and educational facility within the Helena School District. Originally constructed in 1916, the building is highly regarded for its distinctive architectural character, which reflects the community's commitment to public education during the early 20th century. Over the years, it has served as a central hub for student learning, maintaining its status as a landmark in the local neighborhood.

Today, Central School continues to function as an active part of the Helena school system, housing administrative offices and specialized programs. Its presence in the historic district of Helena underscores the city's focus on preserving its architectural heritage while adapting older facilities to meet modern educational needs. The school is widely recognized by residents for its iconic design and its enduring role in the academic history of the Helena community.

242

Total Students

17.4

Full-Time Teachers

13.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

60.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Central School
Demographic	Student Count
White	190
Hispanic	25
Black	2
Asian	4
Two or More	6
American Indian	15

White
190 (78.5%)
Hispanic
25 (10.3%)
American Indian
15 (6.2%)
Two or More
6 (2.5%)
Asian
4 (1.7%)
Black
2 (0.8%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Helena Elem
Phone:	(406)324-1230
Website:	http://central.helenaschools.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	242
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	17.4
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	137
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	9

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 4

Kindergarten 37

Grade 1 42

Grade 2 38

Grade 3 38

Grade 4 42

Grade 5 41