Charles Helmers Elementary School

If you want teaching to the test & running every Friday for necklace charms then this is your school. The PTA, while very involved, is focused on party planning. Do not try to suggest anything new, progressive or academically inclined. They say their "high API scores" are reason enough to maintain the status quo. The administration shifts parents' concerns back on the teachers, as if no vision is required from the top! (Want more science and projects? Ask your teacher to do it!) If you want your child spending 95% of their day doing worksheets, you'll be thrilled. And for a school in a relatively affluent area, a shocking number of parents couldn't bother to crack open their wallets for the direct donation drive. To top it off, the principal honored someone on "Heroes' Day" (9/11) for CHANGING A FORM. That alone should tell you all you need to know. Safety is lacking -- they've got "volunteer" stickers (which ANYONE can just walk right up, sign any name, grab a sticker and you're good to go--no one behind the counter looks up to see who's signing in!) And the teachers, well, they just fall in line behind the administration -- if test scores are OK, that's all that matters!
—Submitted by a parent

Oh, Helmers... where to begin. Uninspiring campus. Mostly mobile trailers. My daughter has attended three other elementary schools in the area (we moved a lot), and she loved school. Until she got to Helmers. Sucked the joy out of learning. Her teacher was not very good. The PTA is a clique, closed to new ideas and modern ways of doing things. We are pulling my daughter out and trying home schooling. By the way, don't believe the positive reviews on this site. Want proof? Look at the posted dates. See six reviews posted on Sept 20, 2009? Think that just happened? Or was it orchestrated by the PTA?
—Submitted by a parent

Charles Helmers is an amazing school! My daughter's teacher is rigorous and has high expectations. The students come ready to learn, and the teachers ready to teach!
—Submitted by a parent

Charles Helmers is a great school. Lots of extra activities and great parent involvement. All the teachers seem very dedicated.The PTA is ran by volunteers, which is a lovely way to give back to the community.
—Submitted by a parent

Helmers like all public schools has had its cuts, but the PTA is nothing but amazing! These are parents volunteering their time to offer addition opportunities for the students. The teachers very talented. And any problems at the school are handled quickly and with reasanable resolutions. I don't know what people expect from a free education? But Charles Helmers is an excellent public school, and their dedicated parents add to an over all wonderful education.
—Submitted by a parent

Public schools are all ran with the best intentions on a limited budget. Helmers elementary is staffed with a principle and vice principle that fight for the most for their students. The staff and parents put in allot of extra hours to make sure the kids are being educated in the best way possible. I like to volunteer in the arts myself thru out the campus, if their is a flaw I believe we as a community should hop to and help out, like so many parents already are. Helmers is a great place to send your kids.

Good Lord! Not another PTA writing party to bolster this lame school again. Rah rah PTA! Go Fit Club where they force all kids to run a mile everyday to get 100% participation. How about encouraging other social activivtiesduring free time??? Also, the music program through CHORDS is an expensive bragging right that does NOT replace an actual music program. Get a clue parents! Just check out the bright future ahead at Valencia High School. I guess these parents will be bragging about their kids at COC! Keep dreaming BIG!
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first experience at Helmers Elementary after moving from another public elementary school in Valencia and all I can say is WOW! This school offers so many things a private school would offer such as a free running club that just won a Governor's award! They also have an orchestra program and music and dance workshops for free for every grade. These are all run and sponsored by the PTA. I have never met parents who are so involved and care so much for everyone's kids. I can say the same thing about the principal, assistant principal, teachers, office staff, custodians and after school day care workers. We are truly blessed to now be at this school. Our kids love it here and Helmers is definitely the BEST school we have ever attended.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has been nothing but excellent in all the 8 years I've had my children attend. We have a principal who tries to keep everyone as informed as possible on what's happening on campus and is always willing to talk to parents. We have an excellent staff and teachers who go the extra mile to make sure our kids reach their potential in learning and being the best citizens. We have the most AMAZING PTA who strives to educate and advocate for our kids. Our school offers the most amazing extra programs like a running club for the entire school called FIT TEAM and the PTA also provides for a music program known as CHORDS which is specfic for each grade taught by master teachers from the performing arts. We're one of the few schools to garner "Best PTA Unit" in the entire state of California. Despite the economy and education cuts, we still do fieldtrips for every grade and not to McDonalds as one reviewer mentioned but to venues such as museums and glass bottom boat tours in the ocean. We are so fortunate to have this school in our community. It rivals the best private school curriculums and it is all due to the success of being a great school in a great community.
—Submitted by a parent

Helmers Elementary is nothing but the best. Everyone from the teachers to the parents to the kids are all wonderful and respectful. Despite the tough economy, this school is still able to provide so many oppurtunities to its students like fieldtrips, music and dance, after school enrichment courses, a student orchestra and a free health and fitness program called FIT TEAM. My children have attended other schools in the area and Helmers is definitely the cream of the crop! We have the best parents and the best PTA!
—Submitted by a parent

My boy's field trip for the entire 6th grade was walking to McDonalds to eat in 2010! Just awful and they hated going to school.
—Submitted by a parent

Helmers is a mediocre school that strives for complacency at best. The prevalent attitude is that no student is pushed ahead and no child is recognized for any special talent or gifts. Everyone is the same. Considering how ultra competitive the parents are, they are shockingly ignorant about what other schools and other bright kids are accomplishing. This school is a nightmare for gifted children.
—Submitted by a parent

Helmers strives to be innovative in the programs they offer to the students. Helmers promotes healthy living with their Fit Team and Recycling Programs (to name a few) and supports community involvement and outreach with all the projects they do throughout the year.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent in every way. Great teachers, who care about their students mix with a great principal to creat a wonderful learning environment for our children.
—Submitted by a parent

Helmers is an award winning school that promotes a family atmosphere between its teachers, parents and students. It focuses on Character Traits and upholds academic standards.
—Submitted by a teacher

The teachers are fantastic!
—Submitted by a parent

My kids come home happy and enthusiastic about learning everyday. The staff and volunteers are the best!!
—Submitted by a parent

Despite major budget cuts, Charles Helmers Elementary and it's staff have carried on..I often see teachers intergrating thier students into hands on care of the school...I have seen 4th,5th and 6th graders outside planting flowers in planters because the gardners no longer come. I have seen the PTA out side maintaining the rose gardens because the school can no longer afford it. I have seen many things taken away from our school and still our award winning teachers and staff continue to rise above thse challanges and make our children thier first priority. My children have come out of thier shells and learned many great things about character and giving back to our community Just from these wonderful teachers..
—Submitted by a parent

Our school has the most amazing office staff, library staff and teachers who really care about our students. I don't think there is one bad teacher in the whole school! They are committed to making sure we have the extra programs for the children, like Music and Art. The parental committment to the school is exceptional, as well!
—Submitted by a parent

Helmers truly focuses on what is best for its students.. whether it be the level of education or the amount of fun the teachers make learning. There are also many extra-curricular classes available.. as well as music, art, family functions, carnivals, special assemblies.. and parents are a huge part of the school as well.. working both in PTA, as classroom or school volunteers. It is a big community focusing on what is best for the children of Helmers... something that is not commonly found in elementary schools throughout the country.
—Submitted by a parent