Opening August 2025
Helix Academy is a new micro school, opening for Kindergarten-Second Grade students in August of 2025. Our unique program offers personalized core instruction and project-based learning in a supportive social-emotional environment. Our program is open to all, but designed to meet the needs of gifted, neurodivergent, and twice exceptional students.
We are building a supportive learning community where diverse learners can thrive.
A Note From Our Founder
I spent much of my career teaching in public elementary schools, offering the same lesson to 30 students at a time. Year after year, I noticed a pattern. On a great day, about 70% of my students really benefitted from what I was teaching. About 15-20% of my students knew the material, and were bored. Another 15-20% of my students were just not ready for the "grade-level" content I was required to teach, and struggled. And those kids at the tails? They were my favorite.
So I set out to design a school for those kids. The kids who are always bored. The kids whose brains work a little differently. The kids who need a little more time, or space, or patience. The kids who just can't handle being in a room with 30 other people all day. Helix Academy is the result of this dream, and I hope you'll join me in bringing it to life.
Our Mission
To empower curious, confident, and engaged learners - equipped with the social, emotional, and academic tools to tackle life's challenges.
Our Educational Philosophy
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Personalized Core Instruction
Reading, writing, and math instruction is provided individually or in very small groups. Instructional goals are based on each student's individual abilities rather than grade-levels. Instructional materials and methods are carefully chosen and research-backed.
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Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. This work supports students in building their confidence and collaboration skills while exploring topics of interest in science, social studies, and the arts.
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Supportive Social-Emotional Environment
Our small school community promotes strong relationships, and ample opportunities for unstructured play promote happiness and well-being. Intentional instruction in social and emotional skills paired with regular community-building activities helps students build the communication and regulation skills they need to thrive.
Tuition and Fees
At Helix Academy, our school year is split into four sessions of approximately nine weeks each.
The costs of each session are as follows:
Full-time Tuition: $6,000/session OR $24,000/year
Half-time (AM or PM): $3,500/session OR $14,000/year
3 Days On: $4,000/session OR $16,000/year
2 Days On: $2,750/session OR $11,000/year
Calendars and Schedules
2025-2026 Calendar
Weekly Schedule
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Do you have a playground? Are students able to spend time outside?While we do not have a playground of our own, we have two lovely city parks within a ten minute walking distance. Our usual routine includes walking to the park for a picnic lunch and outdoor play time.
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Is there anything that Helix does not teach?We do not offer a traditional physical education program. Our small class size combined with the wide range of student ages makes organized sports very challenging. Instead, we provide opportunities for unstructured outdoor play as well as options for kids who need to move inside the classroom.
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Is Helix Academy religiously affiliated?No, we are not religiously affiliated. We welcome students of any and all religious backgrounds.
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Do you administer standardized tests?As a private school, we are totally free from standardized testing. We are constantly assessing students through classroom assignments of all types, but with our young students we rarely describe anything as a quiz or test. As students mature, we may begin to call these assignments "quizzes" or "tests" to help prepare students who might want to transition to more traditional schools. Some of the programs we use for online practice may require placement tests to function properly, and we may share this information with you if we find it useful or helpful in understanding your child. We try to keep these assessments as low-stress as possible.
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Do you follow the state standards?The California State Standards dictate what should be taught to each child of a specific age, regardless of their actual abilities. So, a kindergartener who is reading chapter books needs to be taught that b says "buh," even if they already know that. The sequence of skills we teach at Helix is not drastically different from the state standards, but we teach students the content they are ready for, regardless of their age or "grade." We may teach 4th grade or Kindergarten math to a 1st grader, depending on the needs of that child. Because of this, we can't technically say that we follow the state standards. Our goal is to ensure that our students receive instruction in all of the content covered by the state standards, or more, even if it doesn't necessarily happen on the state-prescribed timeline.
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Do you use grades? How will I know what my child is learning?Each student at Helix works on an independent learning plan with goals and timelines specific to them. Every nine weeks you will receive a formal progress report with updates on these goals. These reports do not contain grades, instead, they report on progress toward your students specific goals. So, instead of an A in math, your progress report will have a few sentences describing which goals your student has mastered, which ones they are still working on, and what they will be working towards in the next nine weeks. We usually report an approximate "grade level" for the skills your student is working on, but we can leave those out if you prefer. In between, you can expect less formal updates from our staff sharing everyday wins and important milestones. You are always welcome to reach out to our staff with any questions you have as well.
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How can I learn more about Helix Academy?Keep an eye on this space! Open house dates can be found on the "News and Events" section of the website, and are open to the public. You are also welcome to schedule an introductory call with our team at anytime. Just use the contact form below to get in touch!
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Are there any requirements my child must meet for admission?Due to California state law, all students must be at least 4 years and 10 months old at the beginning of the school year. Proof of vaccination or a medical exemption in accordance with state law are also required.
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How do I know if Helix Academy is the right place for my child?We think Helix is a great place for lots of kids, but of course it isn't the right choice for everyone. If you're not sure about the fit, please feel free to schedule a call with us! We would love to learn more about your child, and can help you determine if Helix would be a good fit. We want our students and families to be happy - so you can trust us to let you know if we don't think we would be the best choice for your family.
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Can a small school handle my child's behavioral needs?In our experience, many children have fewer or different behavioral needs in a small school than they do in a larger, more chaotic setting. Our goal is always to work with parents and caregivers to address behavioral challenges in ways that allow students to remain a part of our community. However, students with behaviors that endanger themselves or others may not be the right fit for our program. Because of our limited number of staff, we cannot safely accommodate students who run away, are physically aggressive, or destroy property. We are not well-equipped to handle students who are non-verbal, and we do not have adequate staffing to support students who need help in the restroom.