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F.A.Q.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What type of school is
HOLA? |
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Houston Outdoor Learning Academy,
HOLA, is a Non-Profit 501(C) (3) educational organization. HOLA was
founded originally in January of 2000, to be a completely independent,
adventure-based and experiential learning environment, providing an
atmosphere free from any political, religious, or other group-imposed
beliefs, for youth in grades 6-12, who best prosper in such an
atmosphere. HOLA is, first and foremost, a fully-integrated academic
program, within an outdoor education program, for middle and high school
students, who thrive in an active, outdoor-centered environment.
HOLA's unique, out-of-the-box curriculum and hands-on experiences in the
outdoors are not simply a component or part of the school, but the basis
of the school's philosophy. The primary goal in creating HOLA was to
provide an alternative to mass, traditional schooling for secondary
students by offering a complete, individualized academic curriculum, in
combination with experiences in the outdoors. |
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Is HOLA a wilderness therapy, behavior modification
program, or alternative school for students with behavioral or
psychological issues? |
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No. HOLA is not a wilderness
therapy program, rehabilitation program, boot camp, or behavior
modification program, and as such we do not coerce, convince, or attempt to
persuade students to attend school here. HOLA students must make
a conscious and willful decision to attend because they choose to be here,
participate fully, and accept responsibility for their own learning.
Any student lacking desire or wish to attend HOLA will not be considered
for enrollment. The staff at HOLA are not equipped to provide
expertise or resources for students with severe learning disabilities,
behavior problems, and/or emotional difficulties. |
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Is HOLA accredited? |
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Yes, HOLA is fully accredited
by N.A.L.S.A.S., the National Association for the Legal Support of
Alternative Schools and a member of N.C.A.C.S., the National Coalition of
Alternative Community Schools. |
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What
type of facility and resources are available? |
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HOLA is centrally located at 2731
Houston Avenue in the Heights. The world is our classroom in our
out-of-the-box approach to learning, but we also provide a classroom
facility rich in resources. These include extensive library,
hands-on manipulatives, and other educational items to accommodate
multiple intelligences and every learning style, as well as a computer
lab. Our most important resources are personal attention from
certified, experienced, and dedicated teachers. No more than 20
full-time students will be admitted into the program. This creates a
low student/teacher ratio of 5:1 and one-on-one instruction, which is
crucial for a student's educational success. |
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How
does your curriculum compare to other private and public schools? |
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Knowledgeable teachers and an expansive collection of resources
enable us to create an individualized curriculum for each student. This
individualized curriculum, which will have the same academic standards as a
traditional school, will equip your son or daughter with the skills and ability
necessary to pursue higher education. In addition, all students will be immersed
in a challenging study of the outdoors, complete with hands-on experiences,
travel, and the opportunity to acquire beneficial skills which will last a
lifetime. Because of our small size, we have the flexibility to customize
additional activities within the curriculum, based on student interests and
ideas. |
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What are the tuition costs at
HOLA? |
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The school tuition is $8,400 per year plus a student trip fee of $2,100 per year for a total of $10,500 which may be paid out over 9, 10 or 12 months. The tuition costs allow the school to provide students with
an atmosphere rich in resources and opportunities, such as travel and
challenging outdoor experiences, while maintaining a very low
student/teacher ratio. |
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How do outdoor activities and learning go together? |
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Outdoor activities are a catalyst for learning in all subject
areas. The outdoors provides an environment inherently suited to hands-on
activity. An outdoor classroom is an excellent place to learn academic skills,
leadership skills, ethics, self-sufficiency, confidence, and to develop a
lifelong curiosity about the world in which we live. For students interested in
the outdoors, it can serve as their motivation for pursuing excellence in their
own education. |
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How
will HOLA prepare my teenager for college? |
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Our curriculum prepares students in the major academic
disciplines necessary for a successful college career. Our high school-aged
students will complete courses in English, Math, Science, History, and Foreign
Language. Our outdoor curriculum will provide a unique foundation for students
wishing to pursue any number of outdoor careers. Travel and community
service are also an integral part of our curriculum. Students will
also be assisted in preparation for standardized tests and essay-writing
skills necessary for successful college admission. Students are
coached daily in SAT and standardized test-taking skills, such as
vocabulary building, analogies, mathematical problem-solving tactics, and
other problem-solving activities. HOLA focuses on preparing all of its students for standardized tests,
such as SAT and ACT, required for college admission, as opposed to
"teaching" to other tests. HOLA's curriculum is inclusive
of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, as a core, but goes beyond
the state's curriculum guidelines, by providing additional activities and
requirements, important to a student's overall education. |
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Are the teachers certified and experienced? |
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Yes. Both of the founding
teachers at HOLA, Daniel and Laura
Zimmerman, hold valid and up-to-date Texas teacher certifications in
multiple content areas in Secondary Education. They have eight years of public school teaching experience within
HISD and surrounding districts and have seven additional years teaching
experience at HOLA. Mike holds a valid and up-to-date Texas teacher certification in Elementary EC-8, Language Arts and Reading 4-8, and Social Studies 8-12, and has 23 years public school teaching experience in Arkansas and Texas. Loucious has five years experience teaching at HOLA and is currently working on this teaching degree. |
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What are the ages of students accepted at
HOLA? |
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We accept middle and high school-aged students (generally 11-18
years of age). Students of this age will best be able to fully benefit from and
participate in our program. |
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What are the school hours? |
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The school opens at 7:30 a.m.
Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. Students attend
school Monday through Thursday, with Friday being reserved as an academic
workday for make-up. Adult supervision is provided between 7:30 a.m.
and 6:00 p.m. |
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