St Helens SD 502 School District

474 N 16th St
St Helens, OR 97051-1340
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 1,968 students in St Helens SD 502 School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Oregon.
Public Elementary Schools in St Helens SD 502 School District have an average math proficiency score of 23% (versus the Oregon public elementary school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Oregon public elementary school average of 42% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (OR)
# Schools
8 Schools
1,023 Schools
# Students
2,856 Students
367,466 Students
# Teachers
154 Teachers
21,056 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

St Helens SD 502 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 185 school districts in Oregon (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75% has increased from 74% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (OR)
#148 out of 187 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
21%
31%
32%
44%
28%
30%
75%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.40
0.60
% American Indian
2%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
13%
26%
% Black
1%
2%
% White
76%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
8%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,488 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,349. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,556 is less than the state median of $19,399. The school district spending/student has declined by 17% over four school years.
This School District
This State (OR)
Total Revenue
$39 MM
$9,902 MM
Spending
$42 MM
$10,468 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,488
$18,349
Spending / Student
$14,556
$19,399

Best St Helens SD 502 School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
St. Helens Virtual Academy
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
470 N 16th St
Saint Helens, OR 97051
(503) 366-7200
Gr: K-12 | 153 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #22.
Lewis & Clark Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
111 S 9th St
Saint Helens, OR 97051
(503) 366-7603
Gr: K-5 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #33.
St. Helens Arthur Academy
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
33035 Pittsburg Rd
Saint Helens, OR 97051
(503) 366-7030
Gr: K-5 | 160 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #44.
Mcbride Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2774 Columbia Blvd
Saint Helens, OR 97051
(503) 366-7700
Gr: K-5 | 452 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #55.
St. Helens Middle School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
354 N 15th St
Saint Helens, OR 97051
(503) 366-7300
Gr: 6-8 | 563 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #66.
Columbia City School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2000 Second St
Columbia City, OR 97018
(503) 366-7550
Gr: K-5 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 22%

Recent Articles

When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
Discover the hidden costs of public school in 2026, from supplies and fees to transportation, technology, and extracurricular expenses.
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
Learn how district budget cuts can affect class sizes, programs, staffing, transportation, and your child's daily school experience in 2026.
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
Learn how parents can assess school closure risk before buying or renting in a district, using enrollment, funding, and boundary data.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,856 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 24%
  • : 75% (Top 50% in OR)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • : 28% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), OR Dept. of Education

Quick Links