Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Empowering Non-Traditional Learners in Orinda, CA
Holden High School has been dedicated to empowering non-traditional learners since 1969. Our student-centered approach addresses academic, social, emotional, and creative needs through small class sizes, personalized counseling, and experiential learning opportunities. We specialize in supporting students facing learning differences, mental health challenges, and executive functioning difficulties, fostering environments where LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse individuals thrive. Our Bay Area campus provides accessible, flexible education with a focus on community service, independent living skills, and post-secondary transition planning. With mixed-grade classrooms and manageable homework loads, we cultivate self-confidence and a lifelong love of learning.Our collaborative staff works closely with families to create individualized academic paths, emphasizing seminar-style instruction and credit for extracurricular learning. Holden's unique model combines academic rigor with social-emotional development through student-run meetings, community projects, and after-school clubs. We maintain strong relationships with local colleges and career programs to ensure seamless transitions for graduates. Our 50-year legacy demonstrates consistent commitment to creating inclusive educational spaces where every student feels respected and supported.
Services
Full-Time High School Program
Part-Time High School Program
Learning Support
Social-Emotional Support
Post High School Planning
Details
- Year established: 1969
Highlights and features
- We offer 50 years of experience in alternative education
- Our staff provides personalized academic and emotional support
- We implement mixed-grade classroom learning models
- Our program includes college and career transition planning
- We maintain a 100% college acceptance rate for graduates
What people say
Renewed love for learning
Safe supportive environment
Personalized academic support
Successful college transitions
Inclusive community
Services
Full-Time High School Program
Our full-time program provides comprehensive high school education with small class sizes and personalized attention. Students receive academic instruction aligned with state standards while benefiting from social-emotional development opportunities. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning and community engagement.
Part-Time High School Program
This program offers academic credit for students needing supplemental education. Combines structured classroom time with independent learning projects, allowing students to maintain other commitments while progressing toward graduation requirements through personalized learning plans.
Learning Support
Specialized support for students with learning differences includes individualized education plans and targeted skill development. Our staff employs multi-sensory teaching methods and executive functioning coaching to help students overcome academic challenges and build confidence.
Social-Emotional Support
Daily counseling sessions and emotional development programs address mental health needs through individual and group therapy. Students participate in community meetings and social-emotional electives that build communication skills and foster peer support networks.
Post High School Planning
Comprehensive college and career preparation includes transition counseling, internship opportunities, and independent living skills training. Our program helps students create personalized post-graduation plans with support for college applications, vocational training, and career exploration.
People
Abby Holden
Director
Abby Holden leads our collaborative staff in creating individualized educational experiences. With extensive experience in alternative education, she ensures our programs maintain high academic standards while prioritizing student well-being and personal growth.
Libby Holden
Teacher
Libby Holden teaches in our program with a focus on community-based learning. She creates engaging classroom experiences while helping students develop social skills and academic confidence through our unique educational model.
Questions
What makes Holden High School different from traditional schools?
Holden offers smaller class sizes, personalized learning plans, and integrated social-emotional support for students who struggle in traditional educational settings.
Do you accept students with learning differences?
Yes, we specialize in supporting students with learning differences, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges through tailored educational approaches.
How do you prepare students for life after high school?
Our transition program includes college counseling, career exploration, and independent living skills training with a 100% college acceptance rate.
What locations do you serve?
We primarily serve the Bay Area with students from Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, offering accessible education through our Orinda campus.
Can students earn college credits?
Yes, through our transition program and partnerships with local colleges, students can begin earning college credits while completing high school requirements.
