Aim High
6 reviews total. Average rating:
User Reviews
I was a Volunteer & I have helped in the classroom and in the office.
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As an Aim High parent and volunteer, I have seen the direct short and long term results of this exemplary program for middle schoolers. Both my children are graduates of Aim High. My daughter has worked in the program as a teacher. Each summer Aim High provides academics, outdoor education, enrichment and fun! Aim High is truly diverse. It is an excellent program with excellent teachers. During the school year they provide tutoring and fun outings. And Aim High is FREE.
The Great!
- I've seen the results of this organization in... the lives of my children and other Aim High students I have known.
- What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is... kids enjoy learning.
- The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were... exemplary
- If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could... provide a great summer to even more kids expand their program and services.
Ways to make it better!
- My experience would have been better if... Aim High could accept all the families who apply.
- If I ran this organization, I would... not do as good a job as the current administration.
- In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are... the number of children who can benefit from Aim High and the money it takes to provide services to them.
- One thing I'd also say is that... the heart of the people behind Aim High is truly pure.
I was a Board Member & I have helped Aim High develop a strategic plan that has guided its expansion over the past 5 years from 7 sites to 12 sites, increasing the number of students served from 760 to almost 1200.
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I have a broad perspective on Aim High because I have served on the Board for about 5 years, two of my children have worked as teaching assistants in the summer, and a number of our employees' children have participated in the summer program. Aim High is an extraordinarily effective program that is meeting a critical and life-changing need (educational enhancement) for the most underserved members of our community. Aim High has demonstrated its success at providing the skills and motivation necessary for its students to graduate high school and matriculate at college. As one student put it: "Aim High is the place where I learned that I had a right to an education, I had the skills necessary to get an education and I had a responsibility to myself, my family and my community to get an education".
The Great!
- I've seen the results of this organization in... the success of its graduates in high school and college and the enthusiasm and commitment of its graduates for the program as demeonstrated by their returning to teach in the program.
- What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is... the professionalism and commitment of the Aim High staff which has resulted in the continuous expansion and improvement of the program.
- The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were... extraordinary. The administrative staff combines deep expertise in the needs of middle school children with unflagging enthusiasm for the program. Many of the volunteers are graduates or parents of graduates who think Aim High changed their lives.
- If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could... expand its program dramatically - immediately changing the lives of literally thousands of children - while ensuring that it had the resourses to maintain program excellence and ensure financial stability.
Ways to make it better!
- In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are... finding a way to continue to expand to meet the very substantial unmet need while maintaining the discipline to not become over-extended financially or operationally.
- One thing I'd also say is that... Aim High is a template for successful community outreach programs. It is run by experienced educational professionals, it reaches the most underserved communities, it builds strong public-private partnerships and it delivers measureable results.
I was a Volunteer & Taught under-privileged city middle students summer school
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Aim High is an amazing, life altering experience. While I can only speak from the perspective of a teacher, I know from many first hands experiences that this feeling is expressed whole-heartedly by almost all teachers and students who go through the program. The five week intensive academic program has the summer school portion with classes in the morning and an activity period in the afternoon that fosters self expression, confidence, and making friendships. The atmosphere is filled with a strong sense of community and overall positive energy that is contagious, in a good way.
The Great!
- I've seen the results of this organization in... helping kids reach academic potential
- What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is... the relationships that I made with students and teachers
- The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were... energetic, committed, intelligent, progressive
- If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could... change the lives of many more young bright middles schoolers who, by getting this educational opportunity, could change the world for the better
Ways to make it better!
- My experience would have been better if... there was better organization
- If I ran this organization, I would... keep expanding the mission of the program
- In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are... fundraising, getting faculty to stay multiple years
- One thing I'd also say is that... this is a wonderful program
Aim High was founded in the summer of 1986 here at Lick-Wilmerding High School by two or our teachers, Alec Lee and Eleanor McBride. In partnership with a number of other private and public schools over the years, the original "class" of fifty students has today grown to over a thousand middle schoolers on twelve different campuses. If this organic growth is not sufficient testimony to the power of the Aim High "magic," the program's results are! Serviing a population of middle schoolers who would typically have a 25%-30% drop-out rate before completing high school, Aim High graduates have had a 95% high school completion rate and a 90% college-going rate over these twenty-three years! Aim High is also a valuable and effective teacher training ground, attested to by the fact that so many of Aim High graduates and assistant (high school and college students) teachers have become teachers. In my thirty-eight years in education and twenty-six years as a school head, I have never known an educational program that is more focused, strategic, effective and filled with heart than Aim High!
Albert M. Adams, Ed.D.
Headmaster
Lick-Wilmerding High School
San Francisco
The Great!
- I've seen the results of this organization in... 23 years of young lives being changed and Aim High graduates being successful
- What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is... the "heartful" work that is at the center of it all
- The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were... all first-rate
- If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could... ensure its longevity and expand its services to more deserving young people
Ways to make it better!
- My experience would have been better if... we could endow our annual expenses so that each year's program would not be so dependent on annual fundraising
- If I ran this organization, I would... want to spend more time on program and less on fund raising
- In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are... achieving an ample endowment to ensure Aim High's vibrancy in perpetuity
- One thing I'd also say is that... Aim High needs your support!
I was a Board Member & Communicate with others about the positive outcome this program brings to the community.
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All four of my children attended Aim High. The summer program helped raise their confidence level and self esteem. Allowing them to express themselves, without trepidation. They excelled academically. Each summer the program prepared them academically for the folling school year. They learned how to become aware of their community, ask questions and be compassionate towards others. They never wanted it to end! They talk about it all the time and look forward to returning as TA's. You won't find another program like Aim High in the city! The "Magic" does happen in each and everyone one!
The Great!
- I've seen the results of this organization in... the number of students who return to help in some form. Inspiring many to go on to teach.
- What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is... the fun and learning that goes on at the Marin Headlands, especially for those who have never had the opportunity to go beyond their urban community.
- The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were... enthusiactic and energized!
- If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could... impact the lives of many young students nationally and ensure that all are afforded equal opportunities.
Ways to make it better!
- In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are... acquiring more funding.
- One thing I'd also say is that... This is one experience you want for your children!
I was a Professional with expertise in this field & I joined Aim High's staff as Communications and Development Coordinator in July 2008.
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I worked previously in an after-school program for middle schoolers, so I know what a great program can do. Aim High does an amazing job creating a culture that is fun and focused on learning. Teachers and students build relationships that will support and inspire students through high school and beyond. When I visited an Aim High campus for the first time, students wowed me articulate, detailed knowledge of their science projects, and the site directors deeply impressed me with their passion and expertise. As a staff member, I have to admit a certain bias, but - Aim High changes lives.
The Great!
- I've seen the results of this organization in... students' newfound zeal for learning.
- What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is... the way each of Aim High's campuses has its own unique culture that serves and inspires its unique student population.
- The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were... smart, friendly, fun, and dedicated educators and mentors.
- If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could... achieve its dream of offering high-quality, year-round programming that will support its graduates through high schools and propel them into college.
Ways to make it better!
- One thing I'd also say is that... In the coming years, Aim High is working to standardize its academic program so that all campuses have the support they need to offer consistent, high-quality learning in core academic subjects to all students.