Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Helena-West Helena

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Helena-West Helena collagePhoto: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 3.0
D
Schools in Helena-West Helena · Helena-West Helena School District

Helena-West Helena’s public schools score below 90% of Arkansas districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Helena-West Helena’s districts is 9%, below the Arkansas average (38%). The grade covers the public school district serving Helena-West Helena, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arkansas, not nationally.

#120of 123 Arkansas townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arkansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
17%
▼ 23 pts vs AR 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
9%
▼ 29 pts vs AR 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 1–5 pts vs AR 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.0K
▲ 32% vs AR $13.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.8
AR 12.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
978 students on the public path
In brief

Helena-West Helena’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 17% of tested students were proficient in reading and 9% in math, against 40% and 38% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Arkansas (the state reports Helena-West Helena’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Charters enroll a large share of students

Charter schools located in Helena-West Helena enroll 807 students, against the district’s 978. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $17,985 per student in FY2024, against $13,585 across Arkansas. 29% of its revenue that year was federal (Arkansas 14%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Central High School. Enrollment is down 17% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Helena-West Helena’s grade

D Test scoresC Graduation

D: better than 10% of Arkansas school districts, #120 of 123 Arkansas towns. Both inputs trail the Arkansas average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Arkansas school districts we grade (261)Better than 10%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arkansas towns with similar household incomes (181)Better than 12%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 603 test results and a graduating class of 93 could put Helena-West Helena anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Helena-West Helena’s students in the tested grades sat them (604 in math, 602 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Helena-West Helena, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6J.F. Wahl Elementary SchoolHelena-West Helena School DistrictD
7–12Central High SchoolHelena-West Helena School DistrictD−

Helena-West Helena’s public schools are run by Helena-West Helena School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Helena-West Helena School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 978 students, down 17% since 2020–21 · 10.8 per teacher (AR 12.4)
$17,985AR $13,585 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading17%
State average 39.9% · 602 students tested
Math9%
State average 38.3% · 604 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 29% of the Helena-West Helena district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 14% across Arkansas, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Helena-West Helena vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arkansas towns that share Helena-West Helena’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Helena-West HelenaDHelena-West Helena

Every school in Helena-West Helena

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arkansas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Helena-West Helenaby address
J.F. Wahl Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Helena
D
539 students15:1Rate it →
Central High School
High · Grades 7–12 · West Helena
D−
439 students8:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
KIPP Delta Elementary Literacy Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · West Helena
D
Charter
463 students16:1Rate it →
Kipp:delta Collegiate High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Helena
D
Charter
181 students3:1Rate it →
Kipp:delta College Prep School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Helena
D
Charter
163 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Desoto School
Grades PK–12 · West Helena
Private · Nonsectarian
218 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Helena-West Helena’s schools

Are Helena-West Helena’s schools good?

On Arkansas’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Helena-West Helena children attend score below 90% of Arkansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #120 of 123 Arkansas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 12%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Helena-West Helena in?

Helena-West Helena School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 978 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

What is Helena-West Helena’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Helena-West Helena School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Arkansas.

How much does Helena-West Helena spend per student?

$17,985 in Helena-West Helena School District (FY2024), against $13,585 across Arkansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Helena-West Helena?

Yes: Desoto School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 218 students). Helena-West Helena also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Helena-West Helena families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Helena-West Helena → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arkansas. Stars are from neighbors.