Just two months after taking over the operations of Louisiana’s lowest performing school district, a Baton Rouge charter group learned that it will have millions of dollars in additional federal money to help in turning the schools around.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Helix Community Schools a $7.1 million charter school expansion grant. Helix is one of 22 charter schools awarded money this grant cycle and the only one from Louisiana.

Helix reopened as charters the City of Baker’s two remaining traditional public schools: Baker High and Park Ridge elementary school.

“We've got this great partnership and collaboration in Baker, and it's going well. And then we get the support of the United States government,” said Preston Castille, who serves as Helix’s president and chief ex

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