Mission Statement

Helix High School is a college preparatory charter school dedicated to support each student in the attainment of his or her highest academic potential. The educational focus is designed to foster an individual's self-development and personal responsibility that will prepare the student for success in college, career, and adult life. Helix recognizes that a student's education is a shared responsibility between school and family.

Fundamental Principles

1. All students are connected to school and learning through greater personalization and interaction between peers and adults.
2. All students are active learners; all teachers are facilitators of learning.
3. All students demonstrate powerful learning through the production of significant work; all teachers design powerful curriculum.
4. All students, through interdisciplinary work, transfer knowledge to real world situations.
5. All students achieve and remain in school because they comprehend the connection between school work and the world of work.

About Helix High School

Helix High School was built in 1952. It is located in La Mesa, California, a suburb of San Diego. Helix received its charter in 1998, making it one of the first comprehensive charter high schools in California. It is part of the Grossmont Union High School District. Helix's zoned district serves parts of La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Spring Valley; however, as a charter school, all high school students in the state of California are eligible to attend.The 2003-2004 school year marked Helix High School’s sixth year as a charter school and fourth year as a direct funded charter.

Continuing with the pattern that has existed over the past few years, the Helix school population is made up of a wonderfully diverse group of students that is constantly changing. Since 1998, the majority of the student population has moved from being white (60%) to a 2003-2004 majority being other than white (59.6%). Only two other schools in Grossmont Union High School District have demographics like this.