Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to St. Helens

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
Cox-Williams HouseCox-Williams House · Photo: Ian Poellet (User:Werewombat) · CC BY-SA 3.0
C−
Schools in St. Helens · St. Helens School District 502

St. Helens’s public schools score below 83% of Oregon districts on tests and graduation

In St. Helens, 18% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Oregon average (31%). The grade covers the public school district serving St. Helens, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Oregon, not nationally.

#127of 142 Oregon townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Oregon state tests taken in spring 2022, when 82% 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
32%
▼ 12 pts vs OR 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
18%
▼ 13 pts vs OR 31%
2021–22
Graduate on time
74%
▼ 7 pts vs OR 81%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.5K
▼ 13% vs OR $17.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
18.5
OR 17.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
2,264 students on the public path
In brief

St. Helens’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 202 Oregon towns with household incomes within a quarter of St. Helens’s, its schools beat 8%, lower than their 17% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 32% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 44% and 31% statewide; 82% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

74% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,493 per student, against $17,749 across Oregon (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is St Helens Middle School, then St Helens High School. Enrollment is up 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Helens Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

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 St. Helens’s grade

C− Test scoresC− Graduation

C−: better than 17% of Oregon school districts, #127 of 142 Oregon towns. Both inputs trail the Oregon average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Oregon school districts we grade (178)Better than 17%
Lower resultsHigher results
Oregon towns with similar household incomes (202)Better than 8%
DCA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,208 test results and a graduating class of 253 could put St. Helens anywhere from D to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 82% of St. Helens’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,202 in math, 1,214 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve St. Helens, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD− to D
6–8St Helens Middle SchoolSt. Helens School District 502B+
9–12St Helens High SchoolSt. Helens School District 502B−

St. Helens’s public schools are run by St. Helens School District 502, which also serves Columbia City. 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.

St. Helens School District 502Grades K–12 · 8 schools · 2,856 students, up 10% since 2020–21 · 18.5 per teacher (OR 17.9)
$15,493OR $17,749 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading32%
State average 44% · 1214 students tested
Math18%
State average 30.6% · 1202 students tested

St. Helens vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Oregon towns that share St. Helens’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
St. HelensC−St. Helens School District 502
Columbia CityC−St. Helens School District 502

Every school in St. Helens

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

District schools in St. Helensby address
McBride Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · St Helens
D−
452 students18:1Rate it →
Lewis & Clark Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · St Helens
D
426 students17:1Rate it →
St Helens Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · St Helens
B+
563 students18:1Rate it →
St Helens High School
High · Grades 9–12 · St Helens
B−
823 students21:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Plymouth High School
High · Grades 9–12 · St Helens
Alternative Education
65 students20:1Rate it →
Online schools based in St. Helensnot counted as local schools
St. Helens Virtual Academy
Grades K–12 · St Helens
Online
153 students31:1Rate it →

Questions about St. Helens’s schools

Are St. Helens’s schools good?

On Oregon’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools St. Helens children attend score below 83% of Oregon’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #127 of 142 Oregon towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 8%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is St. Helens in?

St. Helens School District 502, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,856 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do St. Helens kids go to high school?

St Helens High School in St Helens, with 823 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is St. Helens’s graduation rate?

74% of the class of 2023 in St. Helens School District 502 graduated in four years, against 81% across Oregon.

How much does St. Helens spend per student?

$15,493 in St. Helens School District 502 (FY2024), against $17,749 across Oregon. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What St. Helens families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near St. Helens → 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 Oregon. Stars are from neighbors.