Public School Review - Established 2003

Idea Center vs. Helix High School

Should you attend Idea Center or Helix High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Idea Center
1600 N. Cuyamaca St.
El Cajon, CA 92020
: 
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Helix High School
7323 Univ Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941
: 
10/
10
Top 10%
Top Rankings

Idea Center ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 5%)

Helix High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 10%)
Overview
Serving 140 students in grades 9-12, Idea Center ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is ≤10% (which is lower than the California state average of 33%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 40-49% (which is approximately equal to the California state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 8:1 is lower than the California state level of 22:1.
Minority enrollment is 47% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Serving 2,502 students in grades 9-12, Helix High School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 57% (which is higher than the California state average of 33%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 83% (which is higher than the California state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 24:1 is higher than the California state level of 22:1.
Minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
School Type
Alternative
n/a
Blue Ribbon Schools
-
Yes
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
140 students
2,502 students
This chart displays total students of Idea Center by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Helix High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
51% | 49%
48% | 52%
This chart displays gender of Idea Center
This chart displays gender of Helix High School
Total Classroom Teachers
17 teachers
104 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Idea Center by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Helix High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
24:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Idea Center and the public school average student teacher ratio of California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Helix High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#6665 out of 9602 schools in CA
(Bottom 50%)
#771 out of 9602 schools in CA
(Top 10%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Idea Center, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Helix High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
≤10%
(Bottom 50% in CA)
57%
(Top 20% in CA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Idea Center and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Helix High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
40-49%
(Top 50% in CA)
83%
(Top 5% in CA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Idea Center and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Helix High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
11-19%
(Bottom 50% in CA)
39%
(Top 30% in CA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Idea Center and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
n/a
80-84%
(Bottom 50% in CA)
97%
(Top 10% in CA)
This chart displays graduation rate of Idea Center and public school graduation rate of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Helix High School and public school graduation rate of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Idea Center by grade.
This chart displays the students of Helix High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
16
669
Grade 10 Students
37
647
Grade 11 Students
34
598
Grade 12 Students
53
588

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
1%
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Idea Center and percentage of American Indian public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
n/a
% Asian
1%
7%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Idea Center and the percentage of Asian public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Helix High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
31%
45%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Idea Center and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Helix High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
6%
11%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Idea Center and the percentage of Black public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Helix High School and the percentage of Black public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
53%
25%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Idea Center and the percentage of White public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Helix High School and the percentage of White public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
8%
11%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Idea Center and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Helix High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.62
0.71
This chart displays the diversity score of Idea Center and the public school average diversity score of California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Helix High School and the public school average diversity score of California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
36%
34%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Idea Center and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Helix High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
14%
28%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Idea Center and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Helix High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
 
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