As a student I benefitted from the tightknit community and compassionate teachers at Aim High who cared about making a genuine connection with the students, investing in us and our dreams, passions, and untapped abilities. What I loved especially about the program was its philanthropic atmosphere, promoting a communal give-and-take dynamic, where graduates of the program could come back as volunteers and give back to a program that provided so much. I returned to Aim High as a teacher, and got to sit on the other side of the desk with students, embodying the Aim High values, and invest in and watch the growth of so many bright, vivid and dynamic young minds. It was just as enriching and rewarding as my experience as a student. There truly is Aim High Magic to be felt when being part of this program. I wish every student in need could take advantage of this opportunity.
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- EIN 94-3296338
- 415-551-2301
- PO Box 410715 San Francisco CA 94141 USA
- www.aimhigh.org
- Facebook page
- aimhighprogram
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As a student I benefitted from the tightknit community and compassionate teachers at Aim High who cared about making a genuine connection with the students, investing in us and our dreams, passions, and untapped abilities. What I loved especially about the program was its
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Children & Youth, Education, Educational Services, Elementary & Secondary Schools, Literacy, Scholarships, Scholarships & Student Financial Aid, Youth Development Programs
Mission: Our mission at Aim High is to create life-changing opportunities during the summer and beyond. Our community: NURTURES the promise and potential of middle school students from low-income neighborhoods. PREPARES students for high school setting them on the path to college and future success. INSPIRES the next generation of teachers and educational leaders. Our vision is to close the opportunity and achievement gaps in Northern California through our transformational summer learning program. We envision every middle school student having access to joyful summer learning, inspired and innovative teachers, and the support they need to succeed in school and life.
Results: Through high-quality summer enrichment programs, Aim High has touched the lives of thousands of low-income youth in the Bay Area, and continues to employ a diverse group of teachers - 76% of whom are people of color. Aim High's impact is significant: 98% Aim High alumni graduate from high school on time vs. 76% of low-income students nationally 98% Aim High alumni enroll in college vs. 52% of low-income students nationally 82% of students feel more confident about doing schoolwork next year 83% of students showed improvement in reading, writing, and science 88% of students feel like they understand how to make positive life choices 90% of students made new friends at Aim High 90% of parents feel their child is better prepared for school in the fall
Target demographics: Bay Area middle school youth from Low-income neighborhoods
Direct beneficiaries per year: 2022: 1,600 students served at 16 campuses
Geographic areas served: San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Redwood City, East Palo Alto, San Rafael, Novato, Napa and Tahoe/Truckee, CA
Programs: Our summer program model aims to close the opportunity and achievement gaps for low-income middle school students by offering an engaging, supportive, and tuition-free summer learning program. The Aim High experience fosters critical thinking, instills academic habits, and cultivates a love of learning. Students participate in four rigorous academic classes in the mornings: Design Challenge, Book Club, Issues & Choices and Future Success. Aim High classes have a low student to teacher ratio, allowing for individual attention and a focus on project-based learning. In total, students receive over 60 hours of academic instruction over the course of the five-week program. In the afternoon, students participate in activities such as lacrosse, soccer, dance, photography, theater and different forms of student engagement. Students typically participate for three or four summers, and many return to teach in the program. Aim High continually evaluates feedback, assesses results, and shares best practices in order to deliver a high-quality program.