Helena appreciates and celebrates their rich and colorful past; the area thrives as an educational, commercial, recreational, cultural, and political center for the state of Montana. The Helena Public School system employs about 580 certified and 375 classified staff who all are committed to lifelong learning, serving 1 special-education preschool, 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 3 high schools, 1 transitional school, 1 adult learning center, and 1 community education program.