Charles Helmers Elementary School

27300 N. Grandview Dr.

School District

Saugus Union
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for Saugus Union School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 30, 2024

My daughter has been a student at this school throughout her elementary years and is now in 6th grade. Unfortunately, I am seriously considering withdrawing her to pursue homeschooling. There is a significant lack of training among staff in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), which is crucial in addressing behavioral and interpersonal issues at this age. Additionally, bullying is rampant among the 6th-grade boys, many of whom exhibit inappropriate behavior that goes unchecked. It's concerning that some of these boys' mothers work at the school and appear to dismiss their children's actions rather than hold them accountable.Rather than addressing the root causes of bullying, the school's approach seems superficial, relying on spirit days and themed activities like wearing jerseys, which do little to resolve these issues. The lack of proper supervision and effective consequences has left me frustrated and disappointed. I had higher expectations for the environment in which my daughter would learn and grow.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2024

Classes are crowded. Supposedly there should be 28 students to one teacher per district versus 24:1 which is the norm in other districts. Classroom rooms are 30 or 31 students . Ongoing sub in the class with pulling the teacher out of the class for meeting, trainings etc. Zero communication with parents. No homeworks or actual ongoing quiz for students evaluations. I would say I am extremely disappointed and frustrated!! Some issues are district related and some schools related.
Submitted by other on June 09, 2023

Helmers is an excellent school with a caring, supportive staff, wonderful school activities and enrichment opportunities, and strong academics.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2021

Lack of communication between teacher & parents. No compassion. Horrible!
Submitted by other on December 16, 2019

We moved to Santa Clarita six years ago. At their old school science fair and spelling bees were mandatory. There was even a social studies fair. Homework was given every night, and reviewed with the students every day. Nice teachers, but some don't want to do the work. Also, the front office staff are very unfriendly. School needs a strong principal, who will implement a stronger academic environment.
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2019

My child was a student for many years at Helmers. In that time the school saw 4 principals. The front office staff is not helpful, or friendly. There is no security measures enforced to ensure students safety, and the front office staff pays little to no attention to who walks through. As for the bullying, they speak of “no tolerance” but they do not effectively combat the bullying that goes on incessantly. Regarding the teachers, I would say 50% are good and 50% are average or lower. I’m not sure where all the fundraiser money goes that is asked for from parents nonstop. The PTA runs the school. It’s all politics and the only people who get a say in anything are the PTA. I STRONGLY feel the school is more concerned with what benefits them than what benefits our kids.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2018

I am disappointed about the academic aspect. I do not feel like my children are academically-challenged at all. Why are there no Spelling Bees? Even the Science Fair is optional. H.W. is a joke. There is hardly any H.W. to reinforce what's being learned at school. I am searching for options this summer to supplement what I feel was lost in academic learning this school year. I second what someone said earlier about field trips. As much as the PTA is involved, I am surprised about the lack of educational field trips outside of "Trader Joes" and "In-N-Out"!! There are also TOO many days off and/or early-release dates.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2018

Our first year at Helmers was amazing. We loved the principal Mrs. Missione. The school was organized and wonderful. Ever since she left, school is going down. Students don't have outside field trip. The only few outside field trips that I remembered were In-N-Out field trip, Went to Ralphs and Starbucks field trip. My kid personally said what kind of field trip are these. We need to go to museums, university, or any places that has so much educational information. Some teachers are nice and wonderful educators, some teachers are very busy with their "other" job with the district or they just don't have passion as teacher anymore to teach these kids.The front office staffs were not friendly at all, specially the nurse. My son told me Ms. Kelsey is rude.PTA is wonderful. They did a lot to this school. As a parent who has to work and can't involve a lot to school, appreciate what those ladies did. But, there are few things that bothers me. It looks like, if you're very active in PTA, your kids most likely will get the best teacher. On a few competitions, the ones who will get first or second places are most likely the students whose parents very involve in PTA. I think it's not fair to other students or parents. I wish I could be stay at home and volunteer as much as I can to help the school, but I'm not that fortunate.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2018

I was a parent at this school for sixteen years and had wonderful experiences. The teachers care about their students deeply and work hard to ensure that all succeed.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2018

The school and teachers are just fine, most of teachers are good with teaching, but not much an effective approach to homework. And it depends on your luck what teacher your kid gets. One of my kids has a great teacher who is good at teaching and also implements good attitudes and behaviors to students. However, my another kid's teacher doesn't efficient use of classroom time and keeps the lessons on track, she had kids took up too much time in the class to do something else. And the current principal is interim Principal, she is just started in January 2018, school will have a new Principal beginning in July 2018.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2018

Overall, school is positive and inclusive. The new principal started after the Winter Break and wow, is she one of the best I have ever seen. She is implementing new policies that focus on student safety and is holding Coffee with the Principal meetings each month to share research based information that will guide instruction and the reason behind why things happen the way they do. Many parents are not aware before they attend the meeting, but the principal and the assistant principal have done a great job working with the community and the parents to explain how and why things are changing. The focus is not just solely on teaching, but also the well-being of the whole child. I am so impressed!
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2018

Our experience over three years has been fantastic! One of the reasons we moved into the neighborhood was because of the great schools, Helmers included. The school has strong parent involvement, great teachers and provides a great learning environment for the students. We have been very happy, especially with our daughter's teacher Mrs. Alexander. I think that her involvement with the kids, teaching style and positive attitude are directly related to our daughter's love of school and helps explain why my 1st grader is reading at the 4th grade level.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2017

Ms. Yamamoto is great for Kindergarten! My kid loved going to school and learned to read. Was definately inspired this year. The end of the year a bag was sent home with all the wonderful things they learned this year and tons of pictures!! Con- there is a huge parent/ teacher divide. I have always been around campuses with open door policies for parents, that does not happen here. Parents are scheduled for small increments and if you are late, you do not get to volunteer. Also, when you have only certain days you can volunteer (because you work), you are told no one is needed that day. To me, parent and home work together and I think ostracizing parents is not a good thing. But, as fall as my kid learning and loving the school and the teacher- absoulutely. Also, they don't have room for every child in the on-site before and after school program (again after being around schools for 2 decades I have never heard of this). Every child that needs care should be accomodated. Also, the parking (or lack there of) is a nightmare. You have to get there at least 25 minutes early for pick-up.
Submitted by other on November 13, 2015

Some horrible teachers that are allowed to remain year after year. Administration and school board don't seem to care, PTA well aware as their kids never end up in these classes.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2015

This is our third year in Helmers. We moved here from Bay area and then La Crescenta because homes were affordable, and that community provides good schools . After one year at Santa Clarita School I thought transferring my child would be a better choice as it looks cleaner and good ratings to compare. I hope as I write this , and with our new principle some changes come to effect . I know a lot of parents are afraid to step up and confront how they feel. I personally am saddened by the education standards the new generation is introduced with the "common core" or if you speak an extra language at home you have to go through ELAC as if your child is handicapped . I can;t change this fact of concept but what I do request is that they hire teachers who are really teaching and encourage challenge. Not just that they are required to finish up the program that they are required to complete and be always absent and replaced with substitutes.. What is the point when more than half of the kids don't grasp well in class , we as parents have to do it all over at home? We'd rather homeschool right? It's so sad when homework is barely in writing any more . Everything is in "play mode" and learning going to school has become a form of free daycare .Like most concerned parents, I have come across other parents who have shown their frustration on same level but have chosen to send their kids to after school enrichment programs such as extra hours of tutoring on the side -quietly- without bringing up the fact that there is something definitely missing in the class. Our kids are normal to smart but they need repetition ,practice and grasping material to excel . And then, there are those parents who are so passive on their child's results, that complain about homework/assignments given to their children because they may have not the time to dedicate and work with their children after a long day.Those are the kids that are just "moving along" ....until again they have no other choice but find an outside school source to progress. I really wish things change and improve in this school and our children become ahead of the game before college. I will not mention the PTA , because that's a different story itself.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2015

Heard so many good things about this school, only to be sadly disappointed by the teachers and poor leadership. As a volunteer in several of my child's classes, I can vouch for "teaching to the test" and the endless pages of worksheets in lieu of any actual teaching. High test scores, but do the kids actually learn anything? PTA runs the school, ensuring their children get the best teachers. Kindergarten teachers were an awesome group, but half no longer teach there or this level. Fit team has good intentions.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2015

Top Notch Teachers and Staff. They Care about every student. All of our children and the rest of the children in the area are performing Great and are ready to move on to high levels in Junior High.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2015

The worst school in SCV. PTA...parties only.Does not inspire students to learn. Teachers leave much to be desire and teach to test. Endless worksheets...substitute for teaching. Poor excuse for a school.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2015

This has to be the absolute WORST school in SCV !!!!! Poor teaching, poor office employees horrible, disgrace, disgusting !!!
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2015

Trust the negative reviews about this school. Teachers: Don't get me wrong, there are some decent and good teachers here, but this school has enough of the bad teachers (some are known to be lazy, and even worse some just yell at the students daily and some bully their students, some are absent often due to district meetings, etc.). Even though parents & students complain to the District, not much is done. Academics: It's a lot of busy work filling out worksheets. Not much of actual passionate & engaged learning or diversified learning. The exceptional student doesn't get much in the way of enrichment or propelling that student forward. If the child has special needs student, expect denial & minimizing of the needs and even intimidation if you don't agree with their minimal services. Other Parents/ Students: There are some nice parents & students, but I don't know why but some parents & students think it's fine to exclude others and act "haughty" (without a reason). Also, some of the students can be a "bully" to others. The parents & students who have close ties to school are treated much differently than others.