Holland Hall

5666 East 81st Street

Tulsa, OK 74137

32 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 29, 2023

I am a current parent of 2 holland hall students. Great teachers and staff. They have well rounded balanced curriculum. I would highly recommend it
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2022

We love Holland Hall! Our daughter is beginning her second year and is entering 7th grade. Students are not sitting at a desk listening to teachers lecture all day. They have projects and hands-on experiences in most subjects. My only concern would be the lack of socio-emotional education. I would like to see students learn empathy and kindness, as this seems to be needed with some students. But our daughter has found a great friend group and we are very happy at Holland Hall.
Submitted by other on February 08, 2022

It’s getting way too expensive. As a student I see one kid getting bullied and the teachers do absolutely nothing. They only stop it to get class started. How they teach us is good and through and almost always on level for us individually. The lunch is crazy expensive (7$ for a slice of PIZZA). right now with Covid and everything they barely enforce masking . In any given classroom about 30% of kids have the mask under their noses. They only enforce the lunch table spacing on days when people come and see the school. But overall I would suggest this school and hope to put my kids there someday.
Submitted by student on February 08, 2022

Super expensive. I know one girl who is constantly bullied by her classmates. I don’t think the teachers are going to stop this behavior. Cafeteria has lots of options and the fries are good. The covid situation is getting better but I feel like some of the kids are not safe at all. I hope this helps. - Student
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2021

Reading the older reviews, it's true that the period around ~2013-2014 was a low period for Holland Hall (ran through 2 headmasters quickly, there was a leadership vacuum that didn't swiftly deal with a few bad apples). But since then the school under JP Culley (new headmaster) is amazing. I have 1 child in the middle school, and 1 in the upper school (both attended Primary School as well). Major pro's: It's small enough that your child can participate in any sport, arts program, the school play, etc (they may be Junior Varsity, but they won't get cut). Academics take a long term view and focus on true mastery of the material and not rote memorization... this can sometimes frustrate parents who think their kid is "ready" for the next level. Example: When my daughter was in 1st grade I advocated for her to move up to the next reading level. The teacher took time to meet with me and explain that while she was indeed a fast reader, her reading comprehension wasn't where it needed to be. In hindsight, she was right to slow her down and make sure she had a firm foundation. Math & English Comp takes a similar approach in the Upper School.The Upper School modular schedule takes some getting used to, but that's why it's a "College Prep" school. It allows kids to choose 8+ classes and less free time, or more free time if they need to balance study time with class time. Your child might add Choir or Pottery, or might "double up" and take Chemistry and Biology concurrently. They build a schedule around their interests.The primary school doesn't have a lot of socioeconomic diversity, but things get better in Middle/Upper school (where more kids receive financial aid to attend). Anti-bullying is a serious focus of the primary/middle school. While the administration works with parents & families to address bullying behavior, there have been instances of a student's contract "not being renewed" the following year if a child was a repeat bully to others (and parents weren't willing to work with the administration to fix the behavior). While it's an Episcopal school, I'd say it's light on the religion component. There's weekly chapel, but the service is inclusive. Some Holland Hall students are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. Chapel times usually have a Judeo-Christian viewpoint, but make sure to respect and sometimes include other faith traditions (i.e. a primary school Christmas Program will include a Hanukah song if there's a Jewish student).
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2016

Holland Hall prepared my kids for college and beyond. There is no better college counseling office in Oklahoma!
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2015

We arrived in Tulsa a few years ago and could not be more thankful to have found Holland Hall. The people have been so friendly, from lifelong Tulsa residents to other transplants like us. We felt at home so fast. Our child is in the lower school, and we have found the teachers extremely accommodating and always open to communicating and sharing information. We get information almost on a daily basis with Haiku, and someone friendly always answers the phone when we reach out to the school. Lots of events at the start of the year helped us get to know others really well. And I cannot say enough GREAT things about Ms. Martin, the admission director, and her team. She answered every question we had and connected us to a "buddy family" who answered tons of our questions and made us feel a part of the Holland Hall community so quickly. Yes, the cost is more than other schools in the area, but we believe our child's education is worth every penny. Besides family time together, it's the best investment in our child's life. He has access to the best teachers, outstanding curriculum, and, most importantly, to a culture that values what it means to be a good person as much as what it means to achieve your personal best. Our last city had many independent school options, but Holland Hall beats them all BY FAR. Our child is challenged every day to do his absolute best in a great academic environment with other students and families that value education. We cannot recommend it more enthusiastically!
Submitted by other on May 07, 2015

My child attended Holland Hall all through middle school and part of upper school. She begged me to take her out repeatedly in middle school and intermittently through high school because of the drug use and bullying. The teachers and administrators are unprofessional. One teacher called her at home and yelled at her on her cell phone, in my presence. When she was hospitalized they were more interested in having proof than how she was doing. They fail to recognize the wonderful things that she did while she was there and the great accomplishments she made. When she started having a spanish tutor at home, because her lessons in class were inadequate, several teachers and administrators set up an appointment with me to let me know that she should not have a tutor outside the school. These are just a few of the issues there. She was bullied many times, even bitten by another student, and nothing was done. She is now in another school, making excellent grades and very much relaxed and confident. There has been no issues with teachers or bullies. Her new school has a greater percentage of Merit Scholars than Holland Hall this year and the coursework is just as demanding.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2015

Both my children attended Holland Hall from kindergarden to12th grade and are now in college. I attribute much of their current success to the excellent academic foundation Holland Hall provided them. Neither my husband nor I are native Tulsans, and we have found the community of parents at HH to be very welcoming. We live in midtown, but I am so glad that we chose to commute to Holland Hall. Our children were very well prepared for college and received a great education.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2014

Holland hall teachers and administration need to realize that when parents invest in a private school education, they expect a challenging, well rounded and individualized curriculum. Holland Hall offers none of the above. The curriculum is mediocre, the co-curricular programs (esp. music) is below average, and if your child is above grade level they have no placement options available. We had no problems with the social environment. In fact, the parents, students, and staff seemed friendly. But if academics and quality co-curricular programs are your priorities, Holland Hall may not be a good fit.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2014

We have been pleasantly surprised with Holland Hall. It has an amazing student to teacher ratio. We have been thrilled with our child's success in the primary school. Yes the tuition is steep but you get what you pay for. As far as comments regarding headmasters I cannot speak to it only that our new headmaster and our assistant headmaster are wonderful and have an open door policy. The parents are very supportive of one another and the kids all get along really well. This is a school that is very involved in giving back to the community and is a school that fosters a nurturing and learning environment.
Submitted by other on February 13, 2014

Holland Hall is a school for jerks and kids who show no mercy. They don't have religion books, bibles, or classes. They disrespect other sports teams by blowing them out when their team is in the lead. If I were to talk to the local Bishop, I'd ask if they could be taken out of the DMSSA league in every sport. Blowing teams out shows zero sportsmanship. My rating would be a zero, but that isn't an option. One star is all I give. Send your kids to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School. The teachers at Peter and Paul will teach your kids.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2014

Holland Hall has been a great disappointment to our family. A post below boasts about the great modular schedule however, the big negative is that the kids have far too much free time to create cliches and drama. My child has a mere 2 classes on one day which leaves him bored since finishing homework takes only minutes. There are a few excellent teachers but by and large most teachers are mediocre . I have noticed that the kids transferring in from Jenks are a grade level ahead in math That should tell our school something. Luckily this will be our last year there, and my advice to parents considering our school is to look elsewhere first. I could not recommend HH based on our experiences at the school. My children have easily made A's and B's without studying. There are far better choices in Tulsa Booker T and Bishop Kelley to name a few. If you want your child to receive a well rounded education in a friendly environment stay away from HH. On a positive note, the new headmaster seems to be strong and with time can hopefully turn the school around. Sadly, that will take some time.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2014

Unfortunately, we were very disappointed in Holland Hall. My son always made incredible grades. He also tested in the top 99% on all standardized tests. However, after we left we realized how awful his education was compared to other private schools. Social Studies is ridiculous. They are not even required to turn in homework. Also, too much time making pancakes and other unnecessary activities took up valuable education time. Most children in fifth grade didn't even know their multiplication tables! Please do not waste your money.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2013

Holland Hall is a Pre-K through 12 Independent School. The curriculum is challenging at all levels. The small class size allows the teachers to get to know the students and how they learn. My child has a learning difference and Holland Hall teaches students how to be independent and how to be their own advocate. They introduce them to learning strategies and build up their confidence so that they can be successful. The teachers are caring and supportive, we have a continuing dialogue. I would be remiss if I did not add that we have had some struggles and we have had to obtain tutoring for my child, but it has been worth every dime. My child is outgoing, confident and not afraid to tackle any challenge. We are impressed with the depth of the Arts department, along with the Academics and Athletics. I know, without a doubt, my child will be prepared for any College or University of their choice. I have witnessed several students reject Ivy League institutions for State schools, because of their level of preparedness they attend a major University on full scholarship with a stipend. So, YES it is expensive, YES it is challenging, YES students love it and YES we would do it again.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2013

With Holland Hall, it is all about the fit. If you are looking for a school where your child will learn time management and how to work cooperatively in groups, the modular schedule in the upper school will be a great fit. If you your child wants to be on the varsity soccer team while being in the choir and an officer of their favorite club, all while succeeding in academics, Holland Hall will facilitate your child's needs and help them be as involved as they want to. Being at Holland Hall for the past two years, and being completely new to independent schools, I have learned so much about the culture and community that, for my family, we can't see ourselves fitting anywhere else. PS- We are very impressed with the new head of school.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2013

Having 2 kids there I have to admit that the quality is going down, especially in High School. Sounds like there is no real leadership, headmasters keeps flying every year, some really bad teachers (i.e the French high school teacher is a pure plain joke and can barely speaks any French at all). The school did not compete in any serious advanced program and graduates very rarely attend Ivy leagues colleges. For the price, there is certainly better in town. It's sad to know that Booker T. had far more goods results.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2013

My child attended Holland Hall all through middle school and part of upper school. She begged me to take her out repeatedly in middle school and intermittently through high school because of the drug use and bullying. The teachers and administrators are unprofessional. One teacher called her at home and yelled at her on her cell phone, in my presence. When she was hospitalized they were more interested in having proof than how she was doing. They fail to recognize the wonderful things that she did while she was there and the great accomplishments she made. When she started having a spanish tutor at home, because her lessons in class were inadequate, several teachers and administrators set up an appointment with me to let me know that she should not have a tutor outside the school. These are just a few of the issues there. She was bullied many times, even bitten by another student, and nothing was done. She is now in another school, making excellent grades and very much relaxed and confident. There has been no issues with teachers or bullies. Her new school has a greater percentage of Merit Scholars than Holland Hall this year and the coursework is just as demanding.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2013

Sadly Holland Hall has been slipping for years. They seemingly have far more issues than other private schools in the area. With the hefty price tag, one would expect to have top notch teachers but that is definitely not the case. Although there are some exceptional teachers there, the majority seem to be mediocre. There are far better schools in the area. Don't be fooled by their smooth talk like we were....
Submitted by other on July 21, 2013

We have been extremely disappointed academically with Holland Hall not to mention their leadership is substandard. We can't keep a headmaster as the board keeps running them off. Holland Hall is known for its bullying and drugs. HH tends to get the kids that were kicked out from other schools. What a waste....it once was a good school.