The key to teaching students with learning differences

Students who learn differently thrive at Holden High School

Holden High School in Orinda, California has been meeting the needs of students diagnosed with learning disabilities in reading, writing and math (such as as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia) since 1969.

We work successfully with a range of diagnoses by providing individualized academics, tailored accommodations, flexible schedules, on-site Learning support, on -site counseling, and social-emotional support.

Our Approach:

Students with learning disabilities, including those considered to be twice-exceptional, thrive in our small classes with appropriately tailored academic accommodations. Our experienced staff utilize multiple modalities to make high school curriculum accessible and interesting to all learners. Holden’s program is flexible, supportive, strengths-based, and engaging for students who struggle in traditional settings to meet academic expectations.

FOSTERING SELF-ADVOCACY

We help students understand how they learn best and to effectively communicate their learning needs to teachers and staff. We value self-advocacy, and we esteem and cultivate it at Holden. This approach helps our students develop confidence and experience academic success.

ACCESSIBLE ACADEMICS

Holden teachers differentiate instruction, teach through multiple modalities, and assign meaningful and interesting work. We utilize assistive technology like KAMI and audiobooks for students to both receive information and demonstrate understanding.

TEAM OF SUPPORT

Holden’s experienced staff receive ongoing training and support to work with students with learning disabilities. Our teachers, counselors, advisory leaders, and learning specialists collaborate weekly to support each student in our community.

Holden's Unique Graduation Ceremony

Holden graduates are honored individually during a group ceremony in the OCC Fellowship hall. Staff highlight student growth and accomplishments and present them with their diplomas before graduates give a short speech of their own. Family, friends, and community members have the opportunity to address each individual graduate before refreshments.

Traditional schools are often unable to provide necessary support

In many traditional school settings, learning disability support falls away once a student advances to high school. Teachers in traditional public and private schools are limited by large class size, lack of access to resources, and effective training in working with students with disabilities.

By the time these students reach high school, they have often become discouraged with school. They are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, to drop out of school, and to develop poor self-esteem. Many high school teachers are not able to provide the support students with learning disabilities need. Holden’s personalized approach works to ensure students are recognized for their strengths and have both the emotional support and academic accommodation to succeed.