School History

Helms Elementary School, built in 1918, is one of the oldest elementary school buildings in the Houston Independent School District. Nestled in the heart of the Historic Heights Community, the school has served generations of learners and has evolved significantly over the years. It was originally named after James F. Helms, who served on the Houston Heights Board of Education and as Chief Clerk of the Harris County Court.

In 1996–1997, Helms became a dual language school through a partnership with the University of St. Thomas School of Education. This marked a pivotal step in the school’s journey toward biliteracy. In 2001, the campus was renamed the Helms Community Learning Center to reflect its broader role in the neighborhood.

The school's commitment to bilingual education continued to grow, and in 2023, Helms reached a major milestone—becoming a separate and unique campus within HISD due to its dynamic and successful 80/20 two-way dual language model. Today, Helms stands as the only full Spanish immersion elementary school in the district. This transformation did not happen overnight—it is the result of years of hard work, community support, and a shared belief that every child deserves access to high-quality biliteracy instruction. All of the teachers at Helms hold bilingual certification, ensuring that students receive rigorous, language-rich education every day.

As part of its ongoing commitment to Spanish language development, Helms also began a partnership with the International Spanish Academy (ISA) program. Through this collaboration, the school hosts a Spanish Language Assistant each year who supports the campus’s linguistic goals for students. Thanks to the generous support of the PTA, a different PTA family volunteers to host the assistant annually, creating a meaningful cultural exchange that enriches the entire school community.