“Before coming to Van Houston, I had a scary experience in a different private school. The environment wasn’t very welcoming, and students weren’t friendly. Now that I transferred here, I am grateful to have teachers that actually care about us. Everyone here is friendly. All of the students are very close and no matter what grade level we’re in, we all get along with each other.”

“Being here made me grow as a person. It gave me leadership positions, opportunities to speak out in public, and the ability to work with kids of all ages. Now, I have better communication skills. The teachers here have also made an impact in my life. Because of the guidance of the staff and classes like College Planning, I got into St. Thomas with full ride scholarships and grants.”

“ I didn’t know what to expect when I first arrived at Van Houston. It was the first year of COVID and my school was online. Immediately, I noticed that the teachers here were more welcoming than the ones I had in public school. After getting to know everyone, I feel a lot better here and have improved in my communication skills. My grades have improve and I have never been more confident in myself ”

“I am a lot happier at Van Houston and have made a lot of new friends. The environment feels so safe here compared to other schools, and it’s improved my mental health a lot. This is the first time I’ve had teachers who not only help us academically, but also genuinely care for us. Being here is like having a second home, because everyone feels like family.”

“When I went to public school, I was very antisocial. I always kept to myself. Ever since I transferred, I’ve gained so much confidence and feel like I can talk to anyone. Everyone at VHA is so connected and talks to each other naturally. For once, I’m at a place where students can be themselves.”