Why should I choose Holden?
For over 40 years, we have successfully provided an educational environment based on mutual respect between staff and students that fosters self-esteem, creativity, personal growth and a love of learning. We offer a fresh start for kids who have experienced failure or have had few experiences of success at traditional high schools. We see your son or daughter for who they are and who they can become. We do not label our students. We view our students holistically and do not focus primarily on their learning disability or past difficult school experiences. Choose Holden because kids who have hated coming to school love coming to school at Holden.

What types of kids go to Holden?
Our students are curious, creative, independent and bright, with significant academic potential. Some have impediments to learning or are disinterested due to previous difficult school experiences or personal issues. Students come from all over Bay Area, representing diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds. Most students come to us because their emotional, social and/or academic needs are not being met in other schools. (See also the Student Site.)

What is Holden’s teaching philosophy?
Our philosophy honors that students develop and learn in social, creative and emotional ways, which are just as important as academic growth. Some students have had difficult or even shaming educational experiences from the one learning style accommodated at most large schools. We work with our students, including those with learning disabilities, to meet their needs and interests and to help them regain their love of learning.

For over 40 years, Holden has been developing a fully integrated teaching style for successfully working with a broad range of learners. Because our class sizes are small, a strongly personal environment is created, allowing trust to develop within the community, which opens students up to the full range of their abilities and interests.

We provide an engaging, low-pressure, stimulating curriculum that is tailored to each student’s individual needs, abilities and interests. We differentiate instruction, which allows us to teach the same content through multiple modalities. Students are grouped by interest and ability, not by grade level. We award credit for work completed, including partial credit, so that no one fails. We give multiple opportunities for students to achieve success and gain individual recognition. For example, each year, students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades complete a Grade Level Project. These are interest projects of their own choosing through support by the staff. Projects range from creative to logical inquiry and career exploration. (See also Academics and Graduation Requirements.)

How much homework is assigned each week?
Students receive an average of nine hours of homework a week. Students have ample opportunities to complete some of this work at school with the help of their teachers or other staff.

Does Holden provide Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)?
If a student is funded by a district, Holden will participate in IEP meetings on site with district staff. We do not take primary responsibility to create and implement IEPs if we do not have a contractual agreement with the district. However, we will do our best to implement such non-contractual IEPs.

We hold annual end-of-year conferences with every one of our students (regardless of ability) and their families to discuss student progress, strengths, accomplishments and goals related to their academic and social growth. These are not formal IEP meetings, but address similar issues. All students work with our transition counselor to plan and prepare for post-high school goals.

We provide appropriate accommodations, modifications and supports for students with disabilities with input from students, parents, staff, educational testing and prior student records.

With what types of learning disabilities does Holden work best?
We work well with students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), Visual Processing or Visual Spatial Integration Disabilities or Mild Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD), as well as with students who have emotional blocks to learning. (See also Services for Students with Disabilities.)

How does Holden address the needs of students with learning disabilities?
Recognizing that each student is unique, Holden doesn’t categorize or stereotype by disability. Because we have such a low student-to-teacher ratio, teachers are able to pay more attention to students’ individual needs, skills and interests. All of our teaching staff are trained by credentialed special education teachers to work with students with specific learning disabilities and learning styles; teachers are provided information about individual students’ educational backgrounds and experiences, including appropriate accommodations, modifications and supports.

We utilize differentiated instruction, an approach to teaching and learning that provides students with multiple options for taking in information and making sense of ideas. For example, a teacher might use several different texts in teaching a specific topic where the content is the same but the reading levels are different. Also, a teacher might assign a written research paper to her class, but allow a student to complete an alternate assignment, such as an oral and/ or visual presentation or a shorter paper.

Does Holden have credentialed Special Education teachers on staff?
Yes. Co-Directors Abby Tuttle and Joel Weber (who also teach), are credentialed Education Specialists. Abby also has a Masters in Special Education with an emphasis in Mild-to-Moderate Disabilities.

How does Holden accommodate diverse learning styles?
We accommodate many different learning styles, including auditory, visual/spatial, kinesthetic, linguistic, musical, logical/mathematical, intrapersonal and interpersonal. Both academic and counseling staff members work together to identify strengths and areas for growth in social, emotional and academic areas. Students are given opportunities to work within their preferred learning styles towards their various strengths. We also address their needs through monthly teacher evaluations, after school homework labs, behavioral support meetings (all included in the cost of tuition), as well as individual tutoring interventions (for an additional cost). Holden’s counselors, directors and academic teachers meet weekly and work collaboratively to support all students.

Is there diversity at Holden?
Yes, there is both visible and invisible diversity at Holden. The student body reflects the racial, socio-economic and cultural diversity of the bay area. Students of color represent 33% of our population, about 70% of families receive some financial aid and 41% of our students come from non-traditional/blended families. 23% of our students are adopted, and 46% have diagnosed learning disabilities. About 56% of students come from Alameda County, 41% come from Contra Costa County and less than 3% from Marin County.

Because social/emotional growth is a huge part of our curriculum, we cultivate consciousness , appreciation, tolerance and knowledge of all kinds of diversity. We provide ample opportunities within the classroom to discuss issues of diversity as well as facilitate community-building events. We also expose students to the richness of the Bay Area’s diversity by taking monthly field trips to various museums and areas of interest and we bring in speakers weekly to talk with students about a variety of issues.

Holden is described as having a “therapeutic atmosphere.” What does that mean?
There have two licensed Marriage and Family Therapists on site, as well as counseling interns who provide “resource and support” in 30-minute or hour long meetings with students once a week. Students use this time to “check in” with the counselors, or for therapy or counseling. Counselors also function as student advocates, and may provide job guidance and mentoring. (See also Counseling.)

How do you prepare students for life after Holden?
We have a transition counselor who works with students on their post-high school paths, which may include help with applying to colleges, conducting job searches or applying to vocational programs. (See also Transition Counseling.)

What do students do after they graduate from Holden?
Students leave Holden with a healthy self-esteem, a love of learning, the ability to communicate effectively, and the initiative and skills to fulfill academic and personal goals. Many continue on to college or vocational school, or begin a working career. (See also After Holden.)

What is cost of tuition?
Tuition is $24,300 per year. A generous and flexible financial aid program and funded scholarships make it possible for Holden High School to admit talented, motivated students from across the economic spectrum. The Admission Office will be as flexible as possible. We cannot give you a specific tuition quote until we have processed your financial aid application and supporting tax documents. Tuition may be paid annually, bi-annually, or monthly. Monthly increments include a $100 administrative charge. (See also Tuition.)

Is Holden accredited?
Yes. Holden is accredited with the National Association for the Legal Support of Alternative Schools – NALSAS.

Is Holden a certified Non-Public School?
No, but some school districts contract with us to place students here. More commonly, school districts reimburse parents paying private tuition for students with disabilities.

How do kids get to school?
Most take BART, but some drive, carpool or are dropped off by a family member.

What are the normal school hours?
Classes are held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 or 3:30 p.m., depending on the student’s schedule. Staff are on site from 9am to 5pm. Students are welcome to come early or stay late on campus.

Why does the school day start at 10am?
Research has shown that biological clocks change during puberty, so teenagers often have trouble falling asleep until late at night. Sleep deprivation makes early morning learning difficult.

Why is the school day so short?
We honor that learning happens both in and out of school. Our shortened school day allows time for students to take community college courses, complete their the grade level projects, do volunteer hours, participate in internships, work part time jobs and partake in their outside interests (e.g. art, music, sports, theatre or film). Our average school day length exceeds the public school state requirement by 30 minutes.

What does a diploma from Holden mean?
In addition to several other school specific requirements, Holden students must complete 240 credits to graduate. Our diploma is recognized by many 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. (See also Graduation Requirements.)

Can my son or daughter go directly to a UC or CSU?
While students have matriculated directly from Holden into both UC and CSU schools, it happens rarely due to new and stringent course entrance requirements. Many of our students successfully transfer and graduate from these schools after a few years at community college.

Does Holden have a sports program?
We offer non-traditional PE classes such as yoga, cycling, etc. The classes offered vary from semester to semester. We encourage students to pursue athletics through local park and rec centers.