Hi. We did some research on this school and while it does seem to have a strong academic program, it also caters to children with behavior challenges. I know this can be an extra concern for many parents of very bright children, but that was not one of ours most thankfully.
We are very grateful to have found Mt. Helix Academy and if you're in central SD or east county, you may want to check it out. It's quite the hidden gem (to us anyway!) We're downtown and the school is a straight shot out the 94 in La Mesa - well worth the 12 mile commute. Tuition is 13K.
We landed here and so far couldn't be happier - 6 months into it. Our son was accepted to K as a young 4 year old (4y,5m - March bday.) They do interview and test (WISC) and kids are not accepted on just a high score. Our son tested at 99.9 for reading & language, 99.8 for math. But it was enrolling him in the summer camp program really that got him in - the school plus us had a chance to see if he was emotionally ready for a full day (8am - 3pm) academic program and that he had the maturity and stamina to succeed.
Anyway, the school has homerooms - nice and small and lots of attention. 2 full time K teachers for 16 kids. Grades 1 - 5 get a teacher per 10 kids (I think grades 6 - 8 is one teacher per 12, they are phasing in high school next year starting with 9th grade plus also starting a pre-K program). The great thing for us is that the kids have their homeroom for most of the basics - Spanish, geography, science, etc. etc. plus lunch and recess times. But the core academics - language, reading, math - the kids may be placed (up or down) with the "grade" they will best be challenged. The teachers are also super accessible and receptive to creating new challenges to keep your kid's interest level high.
So for example, our son leaves his homeroom and joins a group of 1st & 2nd graders for reading. He's in the advanced K math group though it's been suggested he move up (we decided to keep him with the high K's and we work with the teacher to give him advanced study sheets and she lets him work ahead of the group.) We love that he is learning academics at his individual level - but also learning about so many important things like behavior and cooperation (and playing!) where his invididual level is just like any other 4 - 5 year old's. Granted probably half the kids in K have turned 6 already and some of the kids are a full 1.5 years older than our son. But probably 1/2 the class is still 5 with a couple who just turned 5 in the fall. So our son gets to read with his academic peers but then play and make friends with his age-group peers.
The school also has a wonderful art program and a music program and starting in 1st grade they have computer lab (Mac's.)
It was just by chance we found this school and we feel so lucky about it. We're super happy with how well-rounded our son is growing and learning in all areas, academically and otherwise. You might want to check it out.
