Dolores Huerta Elementary School

This is an amazing example of a neighborhood school. Joy James Academy is part of the Leader in Me community. Students have a voice and are true leaders within the school and community. Parents, teachers and community members work together as a team!

Won’t include details in fear of retaliation. My child attended here last school year (2023-2024). Our experience was really overwhelmingly bad. The bus was often broken down leaving kids stranded at school. They would call and say that I should have been at the school 20 minutes ago (how was I supposed to know?) they then threatened to call CPS on me because the bus broke down and they didn’t notify me to pick up my child. The principal was also extremely condescending towards me, asking me questions about my marriage whenever my child would be late (usually doctor’s appointments). I did not feel supported as a parent and I often felt like my child was targeted because he wasn’t receiving enough support at school. Even though we have IEPs and 504s in place. My child is also disabled, so he did have a special class he went to. This is in no way an attack on his teachers. They were amazing. This is a review about the office staff and primarily the principal. No one that unprofessional should be in charge of hundreds of students and staff members.

I enrolled my daughter at Helbing and I am so glad I did. She is in kindergarten and she is reading and writing. Her academic growth in just a few months time has been impressive. Her teacher, Ms. Lee, is wonderful and my daughter adores her. This school is great at inviting the community to participate in carnivals, fairs, shows, etc. I would recommend this school to family and friends.

Terrible school unless you want the principals and leadership in district to violate your rights and fall victim to the school violating the law against your child. The administration is not willing to have the child’s best interest rather than to throw your child under the bus to save their face. No accountability or responsibility.

My friends son has been bullied by the same boys for a year and the school hasnt done anything about it. Its a crime to let a child feel unsafe at school and irresponsible of the school to sweep this under the rug.