Beautiful school in a pretty nice neighborhood in El Cajon. My second time going there for an…read moreinterpreting assignment and both times I have loved the experience. I felt uplifted with the motivational messages at the lobby. Everyone is very welcoming.

terrible. teachers are not the best. every single student is rude and disrespectful. teachers are…read morealways acting like they didn't see stuff. bathrooms are dirty. there is trash everywhere they force to pick up trash so they can film it. TERRIBLE SCHOOL DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS GO THERE

Update; as a result of bullying escalating to violence I had to obtain a court order. I had to…read morecontact the district office to get help, send the order, request specifics to classroom schedules and lunches, and I hope this works. If they don't assist in helping follow the order that's going to be very difficult for their staff. I talked with the assistant VP today and have to send a copy of our order. The school can only do so much during school hours, parents need to be accountable for their children too those who are victims and those who are bully's. If your child isn't stopping even after you have talked to them please get them help in any way you can. Anger management, therapy, emotional regulation sessions whatever you need to do. My son has lasting effects we still have to work out. Please watch your children and be there biggest advocate. I am writing two stars because I am trying to remain hopeful that because I have a order now that it will enforce something because it's court bound, not just something the school wrote this time.

The worst school! Teachers and staff don't care about students!…read more Very low morale, multiple lockdowns without proper explanation, cockroaches in girls locker rooms, no soap in the bathrooms, mean, rude and standoffish teachers, overcrowded classrooms, mediocre education at best. I can go on and on! Do yourself and your kid a favor and find a better school!

Valhalla. home of the Norsemen.. The circular spaceship is home to the one and only Baby Baghdad…read more On a normal day you can expect to be cut off by Caldo moms, see Starbucks addicts, teachers showing up late, and a parking lot at max capacity.. Tuesday the 29.. After waking up late for my morning jazzercise class, I drove to school avoiding mothers rushing to get their children to elementary school.. Since getting cut off in school traffic has become a daily event, I put to use my hours of creative name calling to use. The school day was great! After my teacher showed up thou it slowly declined by the eduction I received.. Still the best #API .. Still the most spirited. -average student wanting to learn other than from a packet

This school has shown a pattern of behavior that makes many students feel unwelcome and unfairly…read moretreated. Numerous students and staff have expressed that the administration often behaves disrespectfully and dismissively, especially toward members of the Chaldean community. Many Chaldean students at Valhalla feel that they are spoken to with unnecessary aggression, singled out for minor issues, and treated with less patience and understanding compared to others. This creates an environment where students feel targeted rather than supported, and it damages trust between the administration and the communities they are supposed to serve. Students deserve to feel safe, respected, and valued no matter their background and many feel that isn't happening here. Many teachers are very racist towards students as well always making Chaldean comments. This treatment towards the Chaldean students needs to stop. No other student gets treated as horrible as the Chaldean students at Valhalla High School.

Best school in El Cajon. We are truly fortunate our kid goes here.... especially considering the…read morealternative public school he would attend (and we own a home in a good neighborhood). Idc who you voted for (btw, we're democrats) or what God you pray to (btw, we're not religious).... we know a good school when we see one! Anyone who writes a negative review can take their kid to the low rated public school they live by. I mean...who writes negative reviews about schools!?!!??!! Unless you're paying for it! Charter schools are elective, and if you're unhappy with it, send your kids to the local public school, move, pay money for private school, or teach your kids yourself! Home school is an option if you think you can do better! Teachers are are under-paid and extremely undervalued. They take care of our kids for almost 8 hours a day...for free (well, almost...taxes pay). They try to educate our kids along with teaching them how to be responsible members of society. Even bad schools have good teachers.... who try and care! We previously had an issue with a teacher here and after sitting down with the principal, it promptly stopped. Our kid is almost in high school and has been attending lfcs since kindergarten. Lfcs provides a FREE and "private school like" education. Ik when my kid leaves in the morning he is learning something, safe, and well cared for. Ummm.... and the school rating is 10 out of 10....I mean really????

I have serious concerns about the way Chaldean students are treated at this school. Although…read moreChaldean students make up the majority of the student population, many families feel that they are not being treated fairly or equally. The teaching system is disappointing, with little to no homework to help students practice what they learn and prepare for tests. Parents also feel that they are constantly being contacted over minor issues, with staff seeming quick to find fault with their children rather than focusing on supporting them academically and helping them succeed. There are also concerns about favoritism toward white students, even though they are the minority at this school. From what families have observed, sports tryouts and team selections raise questions about whether Chaldean students are receiving equal opportunities and being evaluated fairly. It is deeply concerning when families feel that their children are judged differently, held to different standards, or treated unfairly because of their background. Every student deserves equal respect, quality instruction, fair discipline, and an equal opportunity to participate in school activities and sports. Chaldean families are an important part of this school community. Their children deserve to feel welcomed, supported, and valued--not singled out or treated as though they matter less. The school needs to take these concerns seriously, examine whether its policies are being applied consistently, and ensure that every student receives fair treatment regardless of ethnicity.

No matter when you call the school there's never an answer you call three or four times a day and…read moreyou can never get an answer and I don't think that is appropriate for a high school especially when you're trying to get your kid out of school early or talk to someone about any kind of assistance it's never available.

Went here all 4 years. The office staff is horrible. They do not help situations when it comes to…read morephysical bullying and will blame the victim instead. I was told to move to a different school because someone kept putting their hands on me!! What a ridiculous comment to say to a student! No professionalism whatsoever. If your child is a victim of bully's, do not expect the school to have their back! They are about horrible about handling situations and do not do anything about the safety of students who are constantly asking for help!

OMG! What a school...Our son started there in 1995 and loved it. We are foster parents and we've…read morebeen associated with GHHS almost every year with one of our new family members. The counsellors have always been helpful and respectful of each of our kids unique situations. All the teachers thru out each year have been very supportive with us and always had great communication with us for each child's needs. They didn't make many concessions because the kids situation, but helped us help each student to do the very best they could. That was and is our policy. We ask each kid to do their personal best no matter the outcome. We can proudly say that with the help of staff and teachers we successfully helped 42 kids since 2001. Can't say enough good things about this high school.

Fav place for swim meets!! Different snack bar for meets but still pretty good!! Nice pool too!!!!…read moreSWIM FAST‍‍

This school has several things going for it. For starters its location next to a city rec center…read moreprovided it with a unique opportunity to share upgrade costs with the city for shared use of its facilities. This effectively doubled the value of the schools dollar when it decided to expand. With its large new buildings, the use of the indoor gym and outdoor grounds, this is one of the nicest middle schools i have seen around here. Of course, all that would be of no value without the staff. I like them. They are professional and courteous and there is no doubt in my mind that educating the children is their first priority. A great staff had recently had some more good fortune sent their way in the form of an excellent principal. Mr. Ernesto Villanueva transferred from Anza Elementary School around 2006. This was a great benefit to the school but my family as well because my daughter went to Anza and then went to Cajon Valley when he did. We all know it is a relief to know someone at the new school but she got one up on the other kids by knowing the principal. The values of a school is always important. I can offer the parents of children that are now or about to attend this school a little bit of helpful information. Don't go to this school if you expect to cause trouble such as fighting or bullying. Mr. Villanueva will not have it. Period. The staff there are not wardens but educators and they will quickly remind the parents and students of that. Finally, safety is always a huge factor as well. I am very comfortable when my child is in the gates of the school or even anywhere that a teacher is nearby and can see. This includes surrounding areas that the school does not govern. If you intend to screw around off school grounds thinking you are safe, think again. I saw a teacher see some students passing the school one morning to hit the 7-11about 45 minutes before school started and she made them turn around and head into the school. You see, they don't let their responsibility begin and end at they gates. I do have one concern though and that is traffic control. The school sits on a street with high traffic and that traffic consistently exceeds the speed limit. So I am disappointed that there is not a person posted out there before and after school to help guide cars and students safely. I have never addressed this with the principal but if I did he would listen and evaluate without a doubt. Overall, great facility, awesome staff and powerful discipline and education.

This school has had a deeply negative impact on my mindset and overall experience as a student. The…read moreenvironment is filled with disrespect, not only from many students but also from members of the staff, and it feels like no meaningful action is ever taken to address these problems. Because of this, it has become much harder for me--and many other students--to receive the quality education we deserve. I also want to address a situation involving the sale of snacks on campus. I began selling snacks, and my snacks and money were taken by the vice principal. The matter was never properly addressed. The only explanation I received was that students are not allowed to sell items on campus. However, I have personally seen other students selling cookies and even witnessed teachers purchasing from them. The inconsistent enforcement of rules felt unfair and targeted. Another issue involved a $20 bill that I had placed inside an envelope that I was supposed to receive back at the end of the year. My teacher later told me that she had thrown it away. While $20 may not seem like a major issue, it demonstrates a lack of care and consideration for students' belongings and responsibilities. Despite my negative experiences, there were a few teachers who genuinely stood out and made a positive difference in my education. Ms. F, Mr. Johns, and Taliha were inspiring, understanding, patient, and helpful. They treated students with respect and provided the support that many of us needed. Most importantly, I want parents to teach their children how to protect themselves and what to do when situations feel wrong. At one point, I was taken to be searched because staff believed I had something I was not supposed to have. After they failed to find what they were looking for, I was asked to pull down my pants and remove my bra. I knew this was not necessary, and I refused until I could speak with my mother. No student should feel pressured into a situation like that without a parent or guardian being involved. Overall, my experience at this school left me feeling frustrated, unheard, and disappointed. Schools should be places where students feel respected, supported, and safe. Unfortunately, that was not my experience.

This school is pretty fantastic. The kids have made great friends here and enjoy the teaching…read morestaff, counselors, and the principal. My kids are testing well and ready to go to college... which is good, because that is why they went to high school in the first place.

Boy has this school gone down hill fast. There are a few good teachers left but honestly there is…read morenot enough support. We moved my youngest and she is already excelling in a short time. Oh! Just try calling the school! You will NEVER get a live person. You can try every extension and I bet 1 out of 10 may pick up. Just trying to get my daughter out of the school was a nightmare! No one helps! No one calls back! I swear I feel like I have ptsd from the experience!

This school has many flaws. The principal and vice principal are really stuck up. There's a man in…read morethe office who's in charge of attendance, he's a total jerk!! Pick up and drop off is sooo freaking frustrating! I swear sometimes it takes me 10 mins just to get out of the damn parking lot. They make the kids run in the damn heat, and come on El Cajon gets freakin hot! I could go on and on, oh and they give a butt load of homework, it's freakin ridiculous, my daughter sometimes doesn't get finished till 9:00 at night. It's frustrating, but not many schools in El cajon are really great anyways.

The physical state of the campus is a major health hazard. There is a rampant problem with rats and…read morecockroaches throughout common spaces, locker rooms, and areas near where student meals are prepared. Students regularly report seeing pests and droppings in the hallways. Routine facility cleaning and basic pest control measures appear entirely neglected by the administration. The school lunch program provides what is arguably the worst quality food in the area. Meals are routinely served dried out, soggy, or unappetizingly undercooked. There is virtually no nutritional variety or freshness, leaving students with inadequate fuel to get through their academic day. The grading system for the mandatory Physical Education (PE) aquatics unit is completely unreasonable. Students are required to swim four days every two weeks, regardless of weather conditions or their personal comfort level with the water. If a student misses a swim day or is unable to participate due to a lack of swim gear or physical discomfort, their PE grade drops drastically and immediately. There is zero flexibility or reasonable alternative credit provided for students who are still learning to swim, turning what should be an encouraging fitness program into a high-stress academic penalty. When parents try to contact counselors or administrators to discuss these strict PE grading rules or report health concerns regarding the pests, emails and phone calls go completely unanswered. The front office is entirely disconnected from parental concerns.

I have only GREAT things to say about Mt. Helix Academy!!…read more My little 3rd grader has THRIVED at this school. Known to be very shy and often wouldn't participate in class, we were desperate. There wasn't ever any trouble, just no willingness to be part of school functions, class projects, and we were about to succumb to the idea that was just the way it was. No joy for school or even extra-curricular activities. Well... these teachers did amazing things!! My child is like a whole new kid. The small class sizes helped them focus on my child's needs, and the care the teachers showed made such a difference. Now my child loves school, can't wait to "try" math (it can still be hard) and is in the school play! I would have never thought this could happen. I was just looking for a place where a child could feel welcome and loved, and, oh yeah - learn. I am so very thankful that we took a chance on Mt. Helix Academy. I can't recommend them enough!

We feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a warm, welcoming, and enriching school community…read more From the very beginning, our family has felt supported not just academically, but personally as well. The teachers and staff truly go above and beyond to create an environment where each child feels seen, valued, and encouraged to grow. We currently have three children at the school, and each of them has had such a positive and unique experience. The balance between strong academics and character development is something we deeply appreciate. It's clear that the school is focused on nurturing the whole child, building confidence, kindness, and a genuine love for learning. One of the highlights for our family has been the musical program. Our daughters have been involved in the school musical, and it has been such a meaningful experience for them. Not only have they grown in confidence and creativity, but they've also formed friendships across different grade levels, which has been so special to see. The sense of community that comes from these programs is truly something unique. We couldn't be happier with our experience and feel lucky every day to be part of this amazing school. It's a place where children are encouraged to thrive, friendships flourish, and families feel genuinely connected.