Helena Christian School breaks ground on new campus

Dozens gathered in Helena on Jan. 13 for the groundbreaking of Helena Christian School’s future campus, a project meant to secure a permanent home and expand classroom capacity for families seeking Christian education in Lewis and Clark County. School leaders framed the initial construction as a conservative first phase intended to meet an urgent timeline while limiting near-term costs.

Helena Christian superintendent Ted Clark said, "With the current lease ending this summer and the need to be in the new facility in the fall of 2026, the school board has decided to build a more conservative initial phase to make sure Helena Christian has a home next year." The phased plan will establish foundational campus infrastructure, initial classroom space, and core facilities that school officials say will support continued growth.

The school projects long-term debt from this initial phase at between $1 million and $1.5 million and says it will continue fundraising to lower that burden. "We hope the community can rally to help us open the new school with little to no debt," Clark said. School leaders emphasized goals for the new campus that include modernized classroom space, improved safety and accessibility, and greater capacity to serve Helena-area families.

The move carries local implications beyond new brick and mortar. A permanent facility built for the school's mission can improve day-to-day learning conditions, provide safer and more accessible settings for students with diverse needs, and offer more predictable stability for families who choose private Christian education. For public health and community well-being, improvements in school environments can also support student mental health, consistent routines, and access for students with mobility or sensory needs.

At the same time, private school expansion reshapes the education landscape in Helena. The new campus could relieve pressure on nearby public classrooms for some families, but it may also alter enrollment patterns and family choices, with downstream effects on school funding, transportation patterns, and childcare needs. The school's stated emphasis on minimizing debt signals attention to financial sustainability, but fundraising demands and any resulting tuition changes will be closely watched by families for whom affordability is a concern.

Local residents can expect construction to proceed through the coming months with the stated goal of occupying the new facilities in fall 2026. As the project advances, its impact will be measured not only by new classrooms but by how it affects access to education, equity across the community, and the supports students need to thrive.