A Day in the Life
Students at The Tenney School have a diverse day full of learning and collaboration. While one-to-one is the core aspect of a student’s learning, there are many other offerings available as well.
One-to-One Classes
As previously mentioned, one-to-one instruction is the core pillar of our school. All core classes, from 5th – 12th grade are taught one-to-one. Students in this setting have the ability to build a comfortable relationship with the teacher and develop a learning environment that works for them. A student will generally spend a third of their school day in these classes.
Group Classes
Group classes and labs are another third of a student’s day. In these classes, students collaborate with their peers in both core labs as well as electives. Certain core labs that are held as group classes include:
- Science Labs
- English Labs
- Math Labs
- Social Studies Labs
In addition, many of Tenney’s electives are also taught in a small group setting. The following is a list of our small group electives:
- Music
- Spanish
- Art
- Gaming
Homeroom
Homeroom time takes up the final third of a student’s day. During homeroom time, students have the ability to complete homework, work with other students, get teacher help, and more. A unique part of homeroom time here at our school is that all of the tests are taken during homeroom periods (in a separate testing room). The reasoning for this, is that it allows students to meet for one-to-one instruction every day, including days where students may have a test.
Our Students
Our student body is diverse. Through our one-to-one program, we’re able to develop a personalized relationship between the teacher and student. This means that the student can move at a pace comfortable to them. In addition, students are more simulated in said learning environment. In general, our student body can be broken into the following profiles:
Learning Environment
These students come to us with a history of having academic troubles due to the learning environment. It’s common for students to ‘fall through the cracks’ in a larger classroom setting. In a typical private and public school, students are just one out of 30 other students in a class. This makes it easy for the student to feel disconnected from their learning environment, causing an academic decline.
Our one-to-one program excels in working with these students. Students are stimulated in our close-knit learning environment. This improves their focus, areas of weakness, and more!
International Students
We have a large body of international students that come to us here at Tenney. Our one-to-one program is a certified ESL program which allows families from outside of the country to experience a private school education here in Houston. We also have the ability to issue I-20s for families looking to relocate.
High Achieving
Also known as gifted and talented, our program accommodates high achieving students. Many of these students feel bored in their current classroom setting. The reason for this is that the class may be too slow for them. With our program, our teachers are able to accelerate the program around the student and their abilities. This means that high achieving students not only move at a pace that stimulates them, but also challenges them and their abilities!
College Preparation
Our ultimate ambition is to provide our graduates with the opportunity to attend college. Our one-to-one classrooms offer a solid foundation for our students to be well-prepared for their future academic endeavors. As a part of our curriculum, our students undertake a series of tests that are geared towards preparing them for college and entrance exams. Below is a list of these tests:
- 6th-7th Grade: Annual Norm Referenced Achievement testing
- 8th-9th Grade: Annual Norm Referenced Achievement testing + 8/9 Preliminary SAT (PSAT)
- 10th Grade: Annual Norm Referenced Achievement testing + 10/11 Preliminary SAT (PSAT)
- 11th Grade: Annual Norm Referenced Achievement testing + 10/11 Preliminary SAT (PSAT) + +SAT (School Day) + ACT (scheduled individually)
- 12th Grade: ACT/SAT (scheduled individually)
During the junior and senior years, students also are placed in several elective courses to help prepare for college:
- SAT/ACT Math Review
- SAT/ACT English Review
- Weekly period with The Tenney School College Counselor
College Planning Class – During the fall of the 12th grade year, students will take College Planning for 0.5 credits. This course will consist of 3 meetings/week with The Tenney School College Counselor to complete applications for college(s).
Personal Finance Class – During the spring of the 12th grade year, students will take the Personal Finance Class for 0.5 credits.
