Frequently Asked Questions

Does DHA provide any attendance or grading records?

No, DHA does not maintain any official attendance or grade records. Parents are responsible for maintaining all records in order to be in compliance with Missouri homeschool law.

For the Academic Program, teachers will provide a shared lesson planner and grade some assessments from time to time; however, it is the parent's responsibility to oversee their child's education, track their progress, and abide by the expectations outlined in MO homeschool law.

Can my family attend both programs?

Yes! Our program is designed so that families can attend the Enrichment Program (one day a week) or the Academic Program (two days a week) — or both!

Families may choose the DHA location (or locations) that work best for their family.

What safety measures do you have in place?

Student safety is a priority at DHA! An armed security officer is on-site at every DHA program and location.

In addition, staff members are trained on emergency procedures and all external doors remained locked during school hours.

All staff undergoes a background check and abuse awareness training.

What are the drop off and pick up procedures?

Our official school hours are 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. The drop off and pick up window begins 10 - 15 minutes prior to those times (depending on the location).

Arrival and dismissal take place through a safe and organized car line system. For afternoon dismissal, families will be provided with a dismissal sign to display in their car window to ensure each student is safely dismissed to the correct vehicle.

Specific arrival and dismissal procedures will be provided per location.

What do students need to bring to school?

Students need to bring a backpack, lunchbox, and labeled water bottle. Students also need to bring the basic school supplies listed on the supply list provided per program. Students in the Academic Program need to bring their curriculum materials, which will be listed in the shared lesson planner so parents know what to send each day.

Do parents need to stay and help during the day?

DHA is designed as a drop-off program. Students are able to enjoy a classroom environment with a qualified teacher, and parents can enjoy the day off.

On a regular school day, only authorized staff are present in the classroom with students. Parents are invited to attend special events such as Fine Arts Programs and special assemblies, and parents are encouraged to volunteer to help with class parties and PE Field Day.

We do have a limited number of "parent staff" positions available at each program. Our parent staff members work the full school day on a weekly basis in exchange for tuition reimbursement. Please email info@dhacademy.org if you are interested in applying to be a member of our parent staff.

Do I need to purchase any curriculum for my child?

It depends on which progam(s) you choose to attend.

For the Enrichment Program (one day a week), no curriculum materials are needed.

For the Academic Program, families will be provided with a list of required curriculum to purchase. Each family will purchase these materials on their own. Many of our families choose to purchase used materials when possible.

A complete list of required Academic curriculum will be provided to enrolled families in May for the upcoming year. The cost of required curriculum per student is around $400-$500 for elementary - high school grades if all items are purchased new; however the cost of curriculum varies per grade level.

My child is struggling in certain subject areas. Do you do any placement testing to determine which grade level they should enter?

We do not currently offer any type of placement testing. We encourage parents to determine which grade level is best for their child.

For the Enrichment Program, we recommend considering which age level your child would best fit in socially. Enrichment students at the elementary level are mostly participating in songs, games, hands-on activities, etc. and minimal reading/writing is required.

For the Academic Program, we encourage you to look through the required curriculum to determine which grade level would be most appropriate for your child, especially taking into account their current reading level. However, parents should also keep in mind that the at-home assignments can always be adjusted to best meet their child's needs. If you have a child entering Kindergarten or 1st grade, please click here to view the Kindergarten & 1st Grade Readiness Information.