Family

FAQ

Is Archbishop Hanna High School accredited?

Hanna Boys Center School was accredited by the WCEA (Western Catholic Education Association) and WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) in June 2003 for grades 6 through 10 with a 6R accreditation term (6 years with review in 3rd year).

In the Spring of 2006, Hanna Boys Center School applied to WASC/WCEA for a substantive change in our accreditation status to include grades 11 and 12. In June 2006, HBC School received the approval for accreditation in grades 7 through 12.

Fr. Crews and Principal Dennis Crandall got HBC Board approval to officially change the name of our school to Archbishop Hanna High School.

In June 2009, Archbishop Hanna High School was again granted a 6R term of accreditation by WCEA/WASC through June 2015, with a midterm review due in June 2012.

If a student comes to Archbishop Hanna High School deficient in high school credits, are there ways for the student to “catch up” and graduate?

Many of the boys who come to Hanna are deficient in their high school credits due to poor attendance, failing grades, suspensions or expulsions. Students at Archbishop Hanna Hugh School can earn “make-up” credits in several ways:

  • AHHS has 7 class periods which increases the number of credits they can earn from 30 to 35 each semester.
  • AHHS Summer Session where students can earn a minimum of 7.5 credits toward graduation.
  • Independent Study, by taking courses which are organized by AHHS teachers. Twelve (12) hours of work needs to be completed in each subject to earn one (1) credit.
  • PASS Program (paper) or CyberHigh (computer) courses enable a student to earn high school credits which satisfy the “a-g” requirements at the University of California.

Do students go to college from Archbishop Hanna High School?

Yes, many students have gone to college straight from Archbishop Hanna High School. Students who earn the privilege of living in a group home can attend Sonoma Valley High School on a part-time or full-time basis. Students can take college prep classes at SVHS.

Archbishop Hanna High School has developed a college preparatory curriculum (English, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Foreign Language) to meet the needs of students who want to go straight to a four-year college. Check the Academic Course Catalog to see the curriculum.

Students who do not qualify for a four-year college upon graduation from high school can go to a Community or Junior College. This is a great opportunity for our students. Students earning college units at a Community College can earn an Associate Arts degree and then transfer to a four-year school and graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Many of our students have taken advantage of the EOP Program (Educational Opportunity Program) which supports students financially and academically to get a four-year college degree. Hanna Boys Center also awards scholarships to students who are pursuing a college degree.

What kind of extracurricular programs does Archbishop Hanna High School offer to students?

Archbishop Hanna High School provides many extracurricular programs in which the boys participate:

  • Interscholastic Athletics in basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, and wrestling.
  • Sports programs like tennis, golf, and rugby.
  • Intramural Lunch Program in touch football, basketball, and “whiffle” baseball.
  • Full Recreation Program during the week and on weekends, playing all sports, plus games, movies, and hobbies.
  • Wilderness Education Program with hikes, backpacking, wall climbing, rafting, gardening, vineyard management, recycling, and ecology cleanups.
  • Music performances.
  • Drama performances.

Are the teachers credentialed?

Here is the data on our teaching staff:

  • % with BA/BS Degree = 95%
  • % with an MA/MS Degree = 42%
  • % with teaching credentials = 47%
  • Number of teachers enrolled in a credential or masters degree program = 4

Only three teachers do not have either a teaching credential or a Masters Degree.

Can my son receive his high school diploma from Archbishop Hanna High School?

Yes, high school diplomas are awarded to students in early June who have successfully completed all the graduation requirements (see Graduation Requirements in Academics link). Archbishop Hanna High School was officially accredited by WCEA/WASC in June 2006 to include grades 11 and 12. In 2009, twelve boys graduated from Archbishop Hanna High School and four from Sonoma Valley High School.

What kind of educational support system does AHHS provide?

The following educational support services are available to students:

  • Educational testing by a licensed school psychologist.
  • Academic advising by school personnel.
  • Individual tutoring from teachers, staff, and volunteers.
  • Small class sizes for more individual attention from teachers.
  • Treatment Plan Reviews to set treatment goals for boys.
  • Student Success Team meetings of teachers and staff to discuss ways to help individual students.
  • Student Success Plans (SSP’s) created to set educational goals for students.
  • Help by Academic Advisor in filling out FAFSA (financial aid) and scholarship application forms.

What is the average class size?

The class sizes range from 4 to 10 students with an average of 6.5 students per class. Archbishop Hanna High School can meet the educational needs of many students who have learning challenges (ADD or ADHD, etc). Class size is the part of AHHS which is most-often mentioned by students and parents as the greatest positive attribute of our high school.

If my son leaves Hanna, will the credits he earns at Archbishop Hanna High School be transferrable to another school?

Yes, because AHHS is WASC/WCEA fully-accredited high school, all credits earned will be transferrable to the next high school they attend and will show on their high school transcripts. Those courses with a (P) label are college-preparatory (meeting the UC “a-g” requirements) and those without a (P) designation are NOT college preparatory, but meet high school graduation requirements.