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Helena / West Helena School District

305 Valley Dr
Helena, AR 72342
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public high school serving 436 students in Helena / West Helena School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Arkansas.
Public High School in Helena / West Helena School District have an average math proficiency score of 4% (versus the Arkansas public high school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 14% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Public High School in Helena / West Helena School District have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is less than the Arkansas average of 89%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Central High School, with 85-89% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Arkansas or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Arkansas public high school average of 41% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (AR)
# Schools
2 Schools
376 Schools
# Students
977 Students
177,587 Students
# Teachers
90 Teachers
18,607 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Helena / West Helena School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 257 school districts in Arkansas (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 80-84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AR)
#242 out of 258 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
10%
39%
17%
40%
12%
36%
87%
88%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.12
0.59
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
2%
% Hispanic
1%
15%
% Black
94%
18%
% White
3%
59%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
1%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,818 is higher than the state median of $13,136. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,235 is higher than the state median of $13,047. The school district spending/student has declined by 11% over four school years.
This School District
This State (AR)
Total Revenue
$18 MM
$6,371 MM
Spending
$16 MM
$6,327 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,818
$13,136
Spending / Student
$16,235
$13,047

Best Helena / West Helena School District Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Central High School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
103 School Rd
West Helena, AR 72390
(870) 572-6744
Gr: 7-12 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 2 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 977 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 97%
  • : 87% (Top 30% in AR)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 10% (Btm 50%)
  • : 17% (Btm 50%)
  • : 12% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AR Dept. of Education

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