The Truth about AIM High School
Written by Tabitha Hartman, Former Student on Thursday, January 8, 2015
Forget all the rumors about AIM; it isn't for the drop-outs and expelled. In fact, AIM doesn't let anyone in who was expelled or long term suspended. The reason people go to AIM has changed a lot over the years, and June Shirey, the principal of AIM for 19 years, has witnessed that change first hand.
"The AIM program used to be pulling kids off the street to give them an education, but now, it's an all-choice school that people go to for a multitude of reasons," said Shirey.
Students with attention deficit disorders or learning issues switch to AIM. Some students attend AIM because of anxiety issues. This high school is much more quaint and calm. There are only about 70-80 students per session, and class sizes vary from 8-15 kids at a time, so students with anxiety can relax a little more. People also switch to the alternative high school if the stress of their traditional high school is too much, or if their learning style just is a little different. Students are also free to work at their own pace at AIM, since the deadlines aren't as strict. As a result, kids feel less weighted by the impending due dates of projects.
Just because there's no bell schedule and students can eat all throughout the day, AIM isn't necessarily "easier." In fact, students must maintain a B average to even attend this high school. Not only that, but the responsibility is all on them. Students take on as much or as little work as they can handle, so if they're willing to take on more work, they could graduate a year early.
AIM is much more independent than a traditional high school, so there isn't anyone guiding through things step by step. This system is more similar to college.
Another difference between this alternative high school and SHS is that all assignments must be turned in. "You have to turn in all your assignments at AIM," said Shirey. "I taught at Snohomish High School, and one thing I felt was inconsistent was how students could go to school and get zeros after zeros, and then get an A on a project, when really you hadn't completed all the work. And in life, we have to complete all our jobs. Theres no skipping steps. So we require students do every assignment and to a minimum of a B average."
Shirey has really seen students blossom and thrive at AIM. Her proudest day is graduation.
"We have so many kids who never believed that they would ever graduate because they struggled so much in traditional school, so seeing them achieve something as big as this is really amazing," said Shirey. "We've seen students with such severe social anxiety that they just come here, and I wonder if they'll even be able to make it through the day. And once they graduate, its like night and day. You really get to see students come out of their shell."
AIM and its students are a perfect example on how when kids are placed in a caring environment with people who pay attention to them that great things happen.
