News

2027-2028 School Year Enrollment Applications Open

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:00:00 +0000

2027-2028 School Year Enrollment Applications Open

Enrollment applications for the 2027–2028 school year at Helix Community Schools officially open on Monday, October 12.

We offer specialized programs and dedicated academies across multiple campuses to fit your child's unique goals:

Helix AI & Medical Academy (Opelousas, Louisiana)
Helix Aviation Academy (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Helix Mentorship & Maritime Academy (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Baker High School (Baker, Louisiana)
Park Ridge Achievement Academy (Baker, Louisiana)

Helix Heads to Italy & France — Summer 2027!

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Helix Heads to Italy & France — Summer 2027!

We’re excited to announce that Helix Community Schools students will have the opportunity to travel abroad to Italy & France in Summer 2027! This unforgettable experience will immerse students in new cultures, iconic landmarks, global history, and hands-on learning that builds independence, confidence, and academic growth. This opportunity will be for Helix Community Schools students who will be in 9th - 12th grade for the 2026-2027 school year!

Enrollment will open during the meeting, and spaces are limited — so don’t miss out! In the meantime, families can explore EF’s website to find helpful FAQs and learn more about our trusted student-travel partner with 60 years of experience. Please contact Mr. O'Dell at jason.odell@helixcommunityschools.org.

We can’t wait to share how this global adventure could become a life-changing part of your child’s future!

HCS: At a Glance - Innovation is in our DNA

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Helix Aviation Academy hosting Homecoming Parade, Oct. 26, sponsorships available

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

BATON ROUGE, La. (Oct. 22, 2024) – Helix Aviation Academy is hosting a Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The parade will start at Aviation, 7701 Plank Road, to 72nd Avenue to Howell Boulevard and back.

The public is invited to attend. Bring your family and friends to enjoy the floats and performances. It’s a good time for the whole family.

If you’d like to participate in the parade, you can become a sponsor for $300 which includes your parade entry fee, your logo on our social media sites and our flyer.

“We’re excited,” said Charita Sellers, founding principal and executive director of Aviation. “This is our second annual parade and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.”

For more information, contact t.cole@helixcommunityschools.org or solarian.sept@helixcommunityschools.org.

About Helix Community Schools

Helix Aviation Academy is part of Helix Community Schools, a homegrown charter school network headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which includes Helix Mentorship Academy and Helix Legal Academy. Helix is set to open Helix Artificial Intelligence & Medical Academy in Opelousas, Louisiana in August 2025 and Helix Energy and Agriculture Academy, also in Opelousas, in the near future. At Helix, we are committed to exposing students to innovative college and career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM), and the law. For more information, go to helixcommunityschools.org.

Helix School Represents A Community Victory

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The first substantial St. Landry School District construction project for more than three decades was celebrated Tuesday night as a victory for the Opelousas-area community whose students will soon receive the opportunity to obtain 21st century technical and medical training.

School Superintendent Milton Batiste III told a large crowd that groundbreaking for a proposed Helix AI and Medical Academy scheduled to open in 2025, creates a unique partnership that developed among school officials, private industry and individual investors.

Helix Community Schools names Michelle McCalope as marketing and communications director

Thu, 08 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

BATON ROUGE, La. (May 8, 2024) – Helix Community Schools recently named Michelle McCalope as its marketing and communications director.

In this role, McCalope will oversee strategic communications, internal and external communications, media relations, marketing, community outreach, and social media management for Helix’s network of schools in Baton Rouge and Opelousas, Louisiana.

McCalope brings a wealth of expertise to the position with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, media, and communications in markets across the country, including Chicago and Houston.

She previously served as president and CEO of On Assignment Media. She is also a former award-winning print and television journalist, author, and entrepreneur. Her work has been featured in JET, O (Oprah) and People magazines.

Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Southern University.

Her work has been recognized by Southern University’s Department of Mass Communication and its College of Business, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists of which she is the founding president.

“We’re excited to have Michelle as part of our team,” said Preston Castille, president and CEO of Helix Community Schools. “Her knowledge and experience are a great asset to our organization as we continue to grow and expand our footprint in this community and beyond.”

ABOUT HELIX COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Helix Community Schools is a homegrown charter school network headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which includes Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy, Helix Aviation Academy, and Helix Legal Academy. Helix is set to open Helix Artificial Intelligence and Medical Academy in Opelousas, Louisiana in August 2025 and Helix Energy and Agriculture Academy in August 2026. At Helix, we are committed to exposing students to innovative college and career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM) and the law. For more information, go to helixcommunityschools.org.

City of Baker School System to partner with Helix Community Schools

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The Helix Community Schools team is so excited to partner with the City of Baker School System to help enhance the educational experience for students, families and the community. We’re looking forward to working with everyone. Come Home to Baker!

#education #students #Helixproud #cityofbaker #innovative #comehometobaker

View joint statement

Helix Community Schools’ students will receive free, internet-connected tablets from Verizon Innovative Learning at rollout event, Sept. 18

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Helix is the only school in Louisiana participating in the nationwide program this year

WHAT: On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Helix Community Schools will celebrate joining Verizon Innovative Learning—Verizon’s award-winning education initiative which addresses barriers to digital inclusion and helps drive digital equity within education for some of the most vulnerable populations across the country—with a kickoff event at Helix Mentorship Academy in which students from Mentorship and Helix Legal Academy will receive their own tablets. In partnership with Digital Promise, the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program works side-by-side with schools and districts to get internet-connected devices into the hands of students and to enhance how teachers use technology in the classroom. Being part of the program will keep students connected, helping to facilitate learning wherever it’s taking place. In addition to reliable access for every student and teacher, Verizon Innovative Learning Schools also equips each school with a technology coach and provides robust professional development support for teachers to effectively integrate technology into the classroom. Teachers in the program have reported that the initiative allows for more individualized instruction, helps them explore new ways of teaching, and elevates student engagement.

Helix Aviation Academy, Helix Legal Academy, and Helix Mentorship Academy are among 34 schools joining Verizon Innovative Learning Schools for the 2024-25 school year, bringing the program’s impact to 626 schools nationwide. Helix is the only school in Louisiana participating in the program this year. It is receiving 1089 devices with free data plans. The market value of Verizon Innovative Learning’s investment is on average over $2.3 million per school.

“We are thrilled to be part of this wonderful program to help close the digital divide and give our students and teachers the technological tools they need to succeed now and in the future,” said Charita Sellers, founding principal and executive director of Helix Aviation Academy. Sellers also serves as the district lead for the Verizon Innovative Learning program.

“On behalf of Verizon, I’d like to welcome Helix Community Schools to the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program,” said Tandra LeMay, Verizon’s state government affairs director. “This program provides critical resources and technology which not only helps to foster educational equity for students but supports teachers in using technology in the classroom in innovative ways.”

Thursday’s kickoff event at Helix Mentorship Academy will feature students receiving their own laptops as well as:

Remarks from Helix school leaders and elected officials on why hands-on learning experiences using technology—particularly in middle and high school—are so important to academic achievement and lifelong success.
Demonstrations by teachers and students on how this technology will be used in classrooms this year.
Parental involvement—parents will get a firsthand look at how the technology will be used as well as learn more about their roles and responsibilities.
We’ll also raffle some iPads.

About Helix Community Schools

Helix Community Schools is a homegrown charter school network headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which includes Helix Mentorship Academy, Helix Aviation Academy, and Helix Legal Academy. Helix is set to open Helix Artificial Intelligence and Medical Academy in Opelousas, Louisiana in August 2025 and Helix Energy and Agriculture Academy in August 2026. At Helix, we are committed to exposing students to innovative college and career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM), and the law. For more information, go to helixcommunityschools.org

About Verizon Innovative Learning
Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon’s award-winning education initiative, is celebrating over a decade of commitment to addressing barriers to digital inclusion for students and teachers. Since 2012, the program has committed $1 billion in market value to support digital equity, reaching over 7 million students. Verizon Innovative Learning provides free technology, internet access, and emerging technology-infused learning programs to students in under-resourced communities—enabling students to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to build an innovative workforce of the future. In 2021, Verizon launched Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, a next-gen online education portal that provides free access to immersive extended reality (XR) educational experiences to all educators, including K–12 teachers, nationwide. A key program under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental, and social advancement, Verizon Innovative Learning is helping to drive the company’s commitment to provide 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030. Learn more at citizenverizon.com.

Helix Community Schools’ students will receive free, internet-connected tablets from Verizon Innovative Learning at rollout event, Sept. 18

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Helix is the only school in Louisiana participating in the nationwide program this year

Thursday’s kickoff event at Helix Mentorship Academy will feature students receiving their own laptops as well as:

Remarks from Helix school leaders and elected officials on why hands-on learning experiences using technology—particularly in middle and high school—are so important to academic achievement and lifelong success.
Demonstrations by teachers and students on how this technology will be used in classrooms this year.
Parental involvement—parents will get a firsthand look at how the technology will be used as well as learn more about their roles and responsibilities.
We’ll also raffle some iPads.

About Helix Community Schools

Helix Academy coming to Opelousas to educate students on A.I.

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Just off of I-49 in Opelousas, this field will soon be transformed into the Helix A.I. And Medical Academy, creating more opportunity for growth and education in St. Landry Parish.

Written by Zane Hogue at KLFY