St. Helena Catholic School
Minneapolis School Finder Rating
About
About Us
St. Helena Catholic School has served the families of South Minneapolis for nearly a century with a mission to form students in faith, hope, & love. They foster a joyful, diverse, & close-knit PK-8 school rooted in the Catholic tradition & committed to academic excellence. Students grow not only in knowledge but also in virtue, leadership, & service. With small class sizes & dedicated teachers, each child receives personal attention & support to reach their God-given potential. St. Helena welcomes students of all faiths & backgrounds. Their rich academic program includes a research-based literacy initiative, formation in virtues, & a variety of extracurricular opportunities. As a neighborhood school, they are proud to offer financial support based on individual need. At St. Helena, children are known, loved, & inspired to become the people God created them to be.
Languages spoken by school staff
English, Spanish
Extra programming
St. Helena Catholic School offers a variety of extracurricular programs that support student growth beyond the classroom. Sports include soccer for grades 4-8, basketball for grades 3-8, & Girls on the Run for girls in grades 3-8. Students can also participate in choir, chess club, piano lessons, & the spring musical, which is open to all grade levels.
Extracurriculars Offered:
Music, Sports, Theater
Uniforms
Students who attend St. Helena Catholic School are required to wear uniforms.
How to enroll
To enroll, contact Karla Gergen, Principal at (612) 729-9301 or gergen@sainthelenampls.org.
Students at this school
Teachers at this school
Average student to teacher ratio
Academics
Academic programming
Literacy is a core focus across all subjects, with students developing reading, writing, & communication skills through novels, writing projects, & cross-curricular instruction. Grades PK-3 use the Believe & Read program, grounded in the Science of Reading, to build strong foundations in phonics, fluency, & comprehension. Math instruction emphasizes conceptual understanding & real-world problem solving, supported by the i-Ready program. Science & social studies lessons incorporate hands-on activities & critical thinking using high-quality resources like TCI. Enrichment includes Spanish (starting in Kindergarten), physical education three to four times weekly, music electives, & Advisory classes with the school counselor. Technology use is purposeful, supporting personalized learning without requiring technology use at home.
Academic Programs Offered:
Arts Focused Programming, Personalized Learning
Special education programming
St. Helena Catholic School supports a range of student learning needs through partnerships & on-site accommodations. Students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) receive special education services during the school day at their designated Minneapolis Public School site. Transportation is provided during school hours. Onsite, the school offers additional support through classroom accommodations, small group instruction, & individual learning plans. Teachers work closely with families to understand each child’s needs & implement appropriate strategies. They also offer support through the full-time City Connects coordinator, who helps identify student needs & connect families with resources. While it is not a specialized special education school, they are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive learning environment for all students.
Curricula
St. Helena utilizes I-Ready for math & Groves & Saavas for reading.
English language learner programming
About 30% of students at St. Helena Catholic School are English Language Learners. Classroom teachers use strategies to support language growth in all subjects. The focus is on building vocabulary, reading, & communication skills. They value each student’s culture & home language & work closely with families to support learning. Their goal is to help every student grow in confidence & succeed in school.
Climate
School values
St. Helena Catholic School believes every child is a gift from God, created with purpose & potential. The school’s values are rooted in faith, hope, & love; they celebrate the unique gifts each student brings & believe their diversity makes them stronger. The community includes families from many cultures, backgrounds, & faith traditions, & they strive to reflect the love of Christ in all they do. They value kindness, honesty, service, & the power of relationships. The school believes childhood should be joyful: full of play, learning, & connection in a safe, welcoming environment. While they focus on strong academics, they also care deeply about nurturing the heart, soul, & character of every child. At St. Helena, students are known & loved & encouraged to become the people God made them to be.
Recess
All students enjoy daily recess, & preschoolers have recess twice per day. Recess is a safe, fun time to move, play, & build friendships. Caring staff help guide positive, inclusive play so every child feels welcome. Elementary students also have Physical Ed
Discipline Policy
St. Helena’s approach to discipline is rooted in love, respect, & the belief that every child can grow in virtue. They focus on forming students’ hearts as well as their behavior, helping them understand the impact of their choices & guiding them toward responsibility & reconciliation. The school uses a positive, restorative approach that emphasizes relationships, clear expectations, & consistency. When issues arise, they seek to understand the root cause & work with students & families to support growth.
Teacher retention
Equity
Equity vision
St. Helena believes that every child is made in the image of God & deserves to be seen, heard, & valued. Their equity vision is rooted in Catholic faith, which calls them to love one another, celebrate diversity, & work for justice. They are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive school where all students, regardless of race, language, background, or ability, can thrive.
