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

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!

Absolutely horrible! Do not come here it will waste your time and your fun you could've…read moreexperienced. These teachers make bets on students for how much phones they are gonna take FOR A BET. Sometimes even turn on a phone to take it. Counselors barely listen and take everything as a way to not care. This school ruined my middle school experience that I was genuinely excited and getting ready for. It was overall just a problem in my life that I couldn't fix without getting people involved (including problems). If you are a parent, genuinely rethink before taking your child here. It will stress them out or cause them feelings they can't explain, for some it's good but not all. People can also be so mean in this school, even teachers can be some of your biggest enemies. People are so racist not to mention teachers take pride in embarrassing students, seriously? Grow up. This school is so judgmental, for what? Every grade comes with at least 1 bad teacher, not to mention some even curse at their own students, hello? At your own grown age?

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.

It was all right school a little racist I just feel that they didn't give African American kids the…read morequality time that they needed nor did the football coach allow the African American kids to really plan the games-..

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!

As a student of ECV I am disappointed in the lack of support for students as I was ill way too many…read moretimes and the worst part they did not treat me well they say I'm the problem but actually not they say "the caring staff of ecvhs is ready" when they are not and they did not care if I was ill-Nicky P (currently in 10th) and current student

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

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.

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.

To Whom It May Concern,…read more I am writing to formally express concern regarding the excessive work expectations placed on teachers within El Cajon Valley Unified School District and the resulting impact on personal life, well-being, and family responsibilities. A full-time teacher, with contracted hours are from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM has the reality of a weekly workload that extends far beyond this. Weekly meetings often push on-site time to 4:30 or 5:00 PM, and consistently spending at minimum an additional hour each evening preparing lessons, grading, or responding to school-related communications from home. In addition to this, commuting 1.5 hours daily--30 minutes to work and 60 minutes home--which brings the total work-related commitment to approximately 49 hours per week. These extended demands severely limit the time able to spend with a spouse, children and family. Given that the children begin their bedtime routine at 6:30 PM, this equals as little as 1 to 2 hours with them on weekdays; only 9 hours across the entire workweek--just 5.4% of total weekly time. When compared with the 33% of the week dedicated to sleep and nearly 29% dedicated to work and commuting, the balance is clearly unsustainable for a healthy and present family life. I am raising this concern because the district's current expectations fail to reasonably account for the needs of educators with marital and parental responsibilities. This persistent imbalance constitutes a form of family responsibilities discrimination, as it disproportionately burdens employees who are caregivers. Although there may be no malicious intent, the cumulative effect is one of negligent discrimination--eroding work-life balance and harming family well-being. I respectfully request that the district evaluate its scheduling expectations, consider adjustments to after-hours obligations, and explore policies that support a more equitable work environment for employees with family responsibilities. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am available for a conversation and would appreciate the opportunity to collaborate on possible solutions that support both teacher wellness and student success. Sincerely, Trevor Hirsch

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!

Don't recommend this school /district Very disappointing with this school not enough support or…read morehelp for there students that were/are struggling this past year. Don't get me wrong there a few great teachers and am grateful for them and I am sorry for this review to those few good teachers don't mean this towards you, but the actual district and administration obviously have not done enough for all the students that are failing and struggling badly and poor kids are feeling helpless and going into deeper depression as months go by and year almost over and still not much done to help these kids/students. So sad..for these readers I don't recommend this school .

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.

A school that needs you to pay attention to its good qualities only, but when you look deeper you…read morefind bad maintenance, terrible students/teachers, and probably the worst food in a school. All of the staff either looks depressed or puts on a fake smile and the students don't even listen. Everytime I was in a classroom, there was atleast one student that was goofing off and not listening.

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.

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!

What a great place to send your kids to school. They have…read moregreat small class sizes 6-12 kids per class. They learn much better in small Environment. They also have learn the word of GOD and the teachers are a true meaning of love!! They work with the kids that you will not find at a public school. I thought it was a little pricy? But not until I saw the results!!! PRICELESS!!!

After having two children at Christian Unified South campus for several years, my greatest…read moredisappointment is how leadership handled repeated concerns involving staff, bullying, communication, and accountability. My wife witnessed and recorded an interaction on campus involving another student, a staff member who also served in a security role, and Principal Brenda Sniff that she found concerning. She reported what she witnessed to school leadership, including Superintendent Bob Ruhlman and Principal Sniff, and the other child's parent was informed about what my wife had witnessed. Afterward, our family was presented with a written contract stating that "in order to continue at Christian Unified Schools," we had to agree to additional conditions. Among them, we were told we would "not go to another teacher, student, or parent" with concerns and instead communicate with the classroom teacher first or the principal. The contract also stated that Christian Unified had "sole and absolute discretion" to determine whether we violated its terms, with possible probation, suspension, or dismissal. Another part noted was the portion noted about videotaping .To our knowledge, this was not a standard condition required of other parents. Given the timing, we found it troubling that videotaping became part of an agreement. The contract also specifically stated that we would "gladly celebrate Christmas." Our family has sincerely held convictions about how we observe this season. We do not participate in many of the traditional or festive aspects of Christmas; instead, during December we intentionally focus on Christ and His birth. We found it uncomfortable that an agreement concerning our children's continued enrollment included language telling our family how we were expected to celebrate a religious holiday. It felt unrelated to the concerns that had led to the contract. Taken together--the restrictions on whom we could speak with, the videotaping provision, the religious language, and the consequences attached to the agreement--the contract felt intimidating to our family. This was not our only concern. We repeatedly raised concerns regarding a staff aide, Miss Lisa, including what we understood to be a pattern of negative language toward the fifth-grade class throughout the previous school year. We felt her interactions with students could be unnecessarily hostile. Another student also told us that Miss Lisa had made comments about the way Julian dressed in a negative way which is unprofessional. Toward the end of our time at Christian Unified, several incidents became the final straw for our family. We had concerns about repeated comments and interactions involving Mrs. Warners son and both of our children. We followed the communication process the school itself had required of us and emailed Mrs. Warner that Monday. We received no response. On the morning of September 3, Mrs. Warner had time to prepare a written account of a classroom incident that had just occurred earlier that morning and came down to sit in a meeting with us, yet our email remained about concerning interactions with one of her children remained unanswered. During that meeting, I personally witnessed her interaction with my wife and found her demeanor dismissive and disrespectful. When my wife addressed the unanswered email, Mrs. Warner turned toward me rather than addressing her directly. The lack of response, followed by her treatment of my wife during the meeting, felt retaliatory to us. Communication with leadership was also a frustration. Principal Sniff told us that she was not receiving our emails because of network issues something we have been told over the years . Around this same time, another incident involving the new PE teacher, Mr. Figueroa, added to our concerns. Julian told us that Mr. Figueroa was telling two other students that he felt he always had to babysit them. Julian said he became uncomfortable with the way the teacher was speaking to those students and walked away. According to Julian, Mr. Figueroa then asked him, "Are you a boy or a girl?" We found that reported comment inappropriate and humiliating. By that point, these were no longer isolated incidents to us. Superintendent Bob Ruhlman and Principal Brenda Sniff had been made aware of multiple concerns during our family's years at the school. Ultimately, we did not feel there was sufficient or responsiveness or accountability of the adults. Accountability should work in both directions. Despite these disappointments, we want to acknowledge Mr. Rheam, who is no longer at the school. Throughout the previous school year, he took the concerns we brought to him seriously, investigated, and responded promptly. We were thankful for his leadership and follow-through. After several years at Christian Unified, we ultimately lost confidence in how leadership was handling our concerns and withdrew both of our children.