Helix High School - La Mesa, CA

Helix High School has served our community well since 1952. Approximately 200 staff members serve a diverse community of 2,500 students. Helix has a strong tradition of excellence in academics, arts, and athletics. In 1998, Helix became the second high school in California to convert from a traditional high school to a comprehensive charter high school. As a charter school, Helix staff made a commitment to effective collaboration, innovation, and holding ourselves accountable to ensure students reach their personal and academic potential.

As a large comprehensive high school, it is important that students do not "fall through the cracks" or become anonymous on campus. To achieve this, we assign incoming students a Grade Level Team in which a Grade Level Principal, Counselor, Academic Advisor, Administrative Assistant and Social Worker serve the class of students all four years allowing families to have consistent support focused on their student's growth, development, and success.

Our alternative 4x4 block schedule has been the key to improving collaboration and innovation. The schedule reduces the student to teacher contact ratio almost in half and provides teachers almost twice as much time to prep and assess student performance. This schedule allows staff to think about how to use time more creatively and effectively and it allows students to "double dose" math classes, take an academic support class, take dual enrollment community college courses, and to take extra electives. Student outcomes have increased significantly for all subgroups as a result of the improved collaboration, innovation, and opportunities.