Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 2 schools in district

Capital High School

100 Valley Drive, Helena, MT 59601Helena H S →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 09–12Non-Charter
1,427
Students
Total enrolled
91%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
↑ 5% vs nat'l
$14,301
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
16.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
47/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 1,427 students in grades 09–12 in Helena, Montana.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,301 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 47th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Capital High School is a very large high in Helena, Montana, serving grades 09–12 with 1,427 students. The district invests $14,301 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. The school's 91% graduation rate — above the national average of 87% — reflects strong completion outcomes for its students.

Student Body & Demographics at Capital High School

1,427
Total Students
16.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
—
Free Lunch
89
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–12) are served by this school
Gender Distribution744 male · 683 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Student Composition
88%
Asian1%
White88%
Hispanic / Latino5%
Black1%
Multiracial3%
Native American2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 301383000429

Academic Outcomes at Capital High School

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
91
High
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
91%
State avg
78%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
47
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 47th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 66th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 59601

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,301Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,301
State avg
$23,403
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,293
Student Support$2,717
Administration$1,716
Operations$2,145
Other$1,430
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,301 spent per student, an estimated $6,336 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
45%
44%
State government
44.9%
Local (property tax)
44.0%
Federal programs
11.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 91% graduation rate — well above the 87% national average
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 12
Location—
CountyLewis and Clark County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictHelena H S →
Phone: (406)324-2500
NCES ID: 301383000429
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Helena seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing strong graduation outcomes and academic completion. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Helena H S
High
Helena High School
1,087 students · 09–12
● 47 opp
District School Rankings
Location
100 Valley Drive, Helena, MT 59601
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.