Houston Academy

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Houston Academy
Houston Academy's Main Office entrance
Location
901 Buena Vista Drive
Dothan, Alabama
United States
Coordinates 31°14′40″N 85°26′57″W / 31.24444°N 85.44917°W / 31.24444; -85.44917Coordinates: 31°14′40″N 85°26′57″W / 31.24444°N 85.44917°W / 31.24444; -85.44917
Information
Type Independent
Established 1970
Headmaster Dr. Scott D. Phillipps[1]
Color(s) Royal Blue and Columbia Blue
Mascot Raider
Website www.houstonacademy.com

Houston Academy (commonly referred to as HA) is a college preparatory school in Dothan, Alabama. HA offers day schooling for grades 3P through twelfth.

History and Community

Houston Academy is a co-educational day school for three-year-old preschool through twelfth grade. The school was founded in 1970 in response to integration of the public schools in Dothan. The nineteen-acre campus is located in one of Dothan's upper middle class residential areas. Located in the southeast corner of Alabama, Dothan is a progressive community of approximately 67,000. It offers cultural and recreational activities as well as a community college and a four year university.[2]

The campus, which was renovated in 1995, features four buildings connected by covered walkways. Included in the facilities are forty-five classrooms; two daycare rooms; library; Lower School science lab; Upper School labs for chemistry, biology, physical science, and Middle School science; state of the art Lower and Upper School art rooms; Lower and Upper School computer labs; two gymnasiums; a classroom for music and band; and a cafetorium. In 2002, the Dove Center was completed. It houses the Upper School English department, a computer lab, a computer classroom, art room, yearbook room, and the library. The school also maintains two playgrounds with one having a gazebo and the other newly renovated in 2005 with a covered area, a practice football field, and a practice baseball field.[3]

School

The Lower School offers a program for three-year-old preschool through grade six. A variety of enrichment classes are offered in the Lower School to aid in preparing our students’ social and creative potential as well as helping them gain a global perspective. In accordance with the mission statement, the Houston Academy Upper School, grades 7-12, offers a strong college preparatory curriculum and maintains high academic standards for its students. In Upper School elective classes in art, music,journalism, drama/speech, television broadcast, and a fourth year of a foreign language are all accessible and an excellent opportunity for our students to thrive academically, creatively and socially.[4]

Small classes allow for a low teacher-pupil ratio. All Faculty and staff have a Bachelor’s degree, with over half possessing a Master’s degrees or beyond. The average years’ experience for teachers/administrators at Houston Academy is 20.4.[5]

Technology

Houston Academy is committed to providing the best technology resources and solutions in support of the school’s mission and the Strategic Plan. Houston Academy seeks to utilize technology as the essential, transformational tool of the digital age. State-of-the-art technology tools integrated into the curriculum offer HA students a comprehensive 21st century education. At the beginning of the 2012-13 school year, an initiative began that provided students in kindergarten through fourth grades 1:1 access to iPads. In December, all students in grades 5-12 were issued MacBook Pro laptops for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Houston Academy is the first school in the Wiregrass Region to provide all K-12 students 1:1 access to these mobile learning devices.[6]

In addition to the iPad and laptop programs, faculty utilize Smart Board technology, document cameras, Audience response systems, LCD projectors, curriculum based software, digital microscopes, and subscription based educational programs to enhance students’ knowledge. A school-wide wireless network covers the campus, providing network and internet access to all classrooms and learning areas.[7]

One of the most important components of the technology initiative is professional development. HA teachers and administrators are involved in ongoing training provided by both Apple, Inc. and their own technology staff. Full-day inservices and after-school training sessions provide faculty and staff the opportunity to learn both software apps and ways to integrate the electronic learning devices into their classrooms. HA believes that technology allows teachers an additional means to differentiate learning, connect with students with different learning styles, and create an environment where students learn to work collaboratively.[8]

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and the holds memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Southern Association of Independent Schools, the College Board, National Honor Society, National Association for College Admission Counseling, Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors, Alabama Association of Independent Schools, and the Alabama High School Athletic Association.[9]

Strategic Plan

In February 2012, Houston Academy began a planning process to develop strategies for the school over the next five years. In order to forge a document that takes into account the diverse perspectives of all constituents, the Planning Committee that was formed to guide this process included a wide cross-section of the school community—students, parents, faculty, trustees, alumni. Part of this process also involved asking members of the HA community to express their thoughts and perspectives on the school as they see it through the eyes of parents, faculty, administrators, and trustees. The various surveys sent to all HA constituents allowed you to constructively assist the Planning Committee. With a large fraction of the school community participating, planners were able to identify areas that were considered strengths of the school and areas that needed improvement.[10]

Once the input from the school community was gathered, the committee compared this data with other regional and national independent schools. They spent months researching other schools extensively, including speaking with school representatives and making visits to campuses. What resulted is a strong plan that embraces the school's mission and addresses the forces, challenges, and opportunities that will impact the education of HA's students well into the future.[11]

Schedule

There are seven periods on a regular school day. Periods are labeled A through G on a six day rotation with G period for all students being last.

Tuition

Tuition for the 2013-2014[12] school year:

Grade Cost
3P $2500
4P-5K $4500
1st-8th $9630
9th-12th $9900

References

  1. ↑ "Administration". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
  2. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  3. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  4. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  5. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  6. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  7. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  8. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  9. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  10. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  11. ↑ "". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  12. ↑ http://www.houstonacademy.com/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/index.aspx
  • "About H.A.". Houston Academy. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
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