Public schools in St Helens, OR
7 open public schools with an address in St Helens, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
7
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,642
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
18.4:1
Oregon median 17.1:1
Charter schools
1
1 virtual
An overview of St Helens public schools
The federal directory lists 7 public schools in St Helens, OR: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,642 students, an average of 377 per school. The largest campus is St Helens High School (823 students), and the largest elementary school is McBride Elementary School (452).
Every listed school belongs to St Helens SD 502. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 18.4:1, higher than the statewide school median of 17.1:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 71% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving St Helens
Elementary schools in St Helens
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis & Clark Elementary School St Helens SD 502 | KG–05 | 426 | 16.8:1 | |
| McBride Elementary School St Helens SD 502 | KG–05 | 452 | 17.9:1 | |
| St Helens Arthur Academy St Helens SD 502 · Charter | KG–05 | 160 | 11:1 |
Middle schools in St Helens
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Helens Middle School St Helens SD 502 | 06–08 | 563 | 18.4:1 |
High schools in St Helens
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth High School St Helens SD 502 · Alternative School | 09–12 | 65 | 19.6:1 | |
| St Helens High School St Helens SD 502 | 09–12 | 823 | 21.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in St Helens
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helens Virtual Academy St Helens SD 502 · Virtual | KG–12 | 153 | 30.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White76%
- Hispanic12.5%
- Black1.2%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial7%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 St Helens schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,642 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in St Helens
How many public schools are in St Helens, OR?
The current NCES directory lists 7 open public schools with a location address in St Helens: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,642 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve St Helens?
All listed public schools with an address in St Helens belong to St Helens SD 502. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in St Helens?
St Helens High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in St Helens, with 823 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in St Helens?
Yes. 1 of the 7 public schools in St Helens are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including St Helens Arthur Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in St Helens schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across St Helens public schools is 18.4:1, higher than the Oregon school median of 17.1:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in St Helens guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Oregon cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Oregon cities