Helix Charter High School: No Changes in Attendance Boundaries for Scotties

Updated at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 14, 2012

Aiming to relieve family worries, Helix Charter High School officials Thursday said attendance boundary changes in the Grossmont Union High School District won’t affect the Highlanders.

The school’s attendance areas will remain the same for the 2012-13 school year, and the process for enrolling won’t change, said Jennifer Osborn, a school spokeswoman.

The school district is considering changes in the attendance areas for the 10 traditional high schools in the district, including Grossmont, Mount Miguel and Monte Vista. Steele Canyon in Rancho San Diego and Liberty, of Casa de Oro, are the district’s other charter high schools. Liberty didn’t convert from a traditional school, so it never had established boundaries.

“Many students have looked forward to attending Helix for many years, and they have expressed concern to us after seeing the proposed GUHSD boundaries,” said Rani Goyal, Helix executive director.

“I am here to assure those families that they will still be able to attend Helix, regardless of the boundaries set by the GUHSD. We are excited to offer all students the opportunity to prepare for college and other post-high school endeavors, while having a fun and enriching high school experience.”

Students who live within Helix’s boundaries (attached) and are now attending a public middle school will receive a letter in the spring telling them that they are eligible for priority enrollment at Helix, Osborn said.

Students also will get a letter from the district on which of the traditional schools is their school of residence. Families who choose not to attend Helix will be subject to the boundaries set by the district for the traditional high schools.

The district has already announced that no students currently enrolled will have to change high schools.

Helix—at 7323 University Ave. in west La Mesa—is a tuition-free public school and must admit all students who wish to enroll, regardless of where they live, Osborn noted.

But priority is given to students from within the attendance boundaries, she said.

“As has been the case since Helix became a charter school, students from within the attendance area may enroll without applying,” she said. “Those residing outside of Helix’s boundaries must apply for attendance. If there are more applicants than available seats, there will be a lottery and students will be randomly selected for enrollment.”

Generally, about 150 nonresident students are awarded enrollment at Helix through the lottery, Osborn said.

More information on enrollment at Helix can be found at www.helixcharter.net, or by calling 619-644-1940. 

Members of the public also can attend the school’s continuing Excellence in Education Tour from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Nov. 15 or 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 1.

Helix Charter High School serves about 2,500 students from all over the county, with the majority from La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Spring Valley.

Helix High School was established in 1952 and was granted its charter in 1997, becoming the first comprehensive charter high school in the state.