In a huge celebratory week for AIMS, following the announcement of AIMS as the Hart Vision Award's School of the Year in Northern California, last night AIMS College Prep High School was one of three schools presented with the A-G Quality School Award in the category of A-G completion for African-American students.
AIMS College Prep High School has a 100% completion rate of A-G requirements for African-American students. In the 2018-2019 academic year, only 39.5% of African-American OUSD high school graduates fulfilled the A-G requirements. Thousands of students from underserved populations graduate every single year ineligible to attend UC's and CSU's due to not completing A-G requirements.
The virtual ceremony, which was hosted on Facebook, can be re-played here. We heard some inspiring words from Oakland school leaders and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.
Quotes from Award Panelists
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf - "Through this incredibly difficult time and unusual year for our graduates, you have perservered and earned this achievement because of your incredible reslience. Keep it up and always bring your talent back to Oakland."
Kimi Kean, Families in Action - "AIMS sets a vision that is even beyond A-G. You create systems of support including paying for tests and making sure students are prepared as a part of your school system, which is really exciting."
Maurice Williams, AIMS College Prep High School Head of School - "We actually graduate our students with an A-G plus. Having a quality education should not be a matter of access, its an equity thing and we are happy to do it as a part of our mission."
Full press release below.
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NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Suzen Chu - (510) 390-1624, suzen.chu@aimsk12.org
AIMS K-12 College Prep School District Named Honoree in First Ever A-G Quality School Awards
Innovative School recognized for breaking systemic barriers for
Oakland’s African-American and Latinx Students
OAKLAND, CA - April 22, 2020. AIMS K-12 College Prep Charter District (AIMS) has been recognized for their work to prepare historically underserved student populations to meet high standards of college readiness. AIMS provides a rigorous curriculum that prepares Latinx and African American students to meet A-G Requirements. A-G requirements are what make the difference between a student who graduates with a high school diploma and a student who graduates eligible to attend a 4-year CSU or UC University. In the Oakland Unified School District, 53.6% of 12th grade graduates met the A-G requirements for the 2018-2019 academic school year1.
Families in Action for Quality Education (FIA) and Energy Convertors co-hosted the first ever A-G Quality School Awards ceremony to recognize top high schools in Oakland that are providing access to rigorous A-G coursework for Latinx and African American students. Although participants and awardees were unable to celebrate in person due to COVID-19 social distancing measures, attendees were able to gather virtually and celebrate the successes of award recipients.
“The (A-G Awards) are important because for far too long, our Black (and Brown) kids have been graduating but have not been A-G eligible to even apply to our UC and CSU systems, and many do not know until it’s too late. This has been happening since I was a student, and it’s ridiculous. By making sure students are leaving A-G eligible, you are ensuring that they are set up to attend college”. - Dr. Charles Cole III, founder of Energy Convertors, an Oakland native and former OUSD student.
"AIMS College Prep High School is relentlessly dedicated to ensuring that all students are challenged and supported in their preparation to college, through offering A-G requirements to all and going above and beyond with additional opportunities for advanced coursework. AIMS is the kind of quality high school we need more of in Oakland.”- Kimi Kean, Families in Action for Quality Education.
AIMS K-12 College Prep is defying the odds and closing the achievement gap for students of color from low-income families and neighborhoods. AIMS families have sought out alternatives to their traditional neighborhood schools in hopes that their students can access a high quality education for a better future. While serving a student population with 75% of families qualifying for free and reduced lunch, AIMS has proven that underserved students can compete academically with the best, when given adequate support and resources.
In addition to providing a well-rounded curriculum that sets students up to successfully meet A-G requirements, AIMS invests to ensure high performing outcomes. All high school students take AP classes beginning freshman year. AIMS fully covers the costs for students’ SAT and ACT exams, AP test prep books and exams, and covers college application fees for all seniors. 100% of AIMS graduates are accepted into four year colleges and universities.
AIMS K-12 College Prep has risen to become one of the top public schools in Oakland and the Bay Area, recognized by Innovate Public Schools2 as a Top Bay Area Public School for Underserved Students for 4 academic years. In 2018, AIMS was recognized by Innovate as the only middle school in the Bay Area that made significant strides in closing the achievement gap for low-income African American students in English and Math.
From its founding as a middle school in 1996, formerly known as American Indian Model Schools, AIMS is Oakland’s second publicly-funded charter school. In the years since it first opened, AIMS has expanded to a middle and high school and, by 2012, a complete K-12 school. Today, AIMS K-12 College Prep Charter District serves low-income students with a success rate of 100% of graduates being accepted into 4-year colleges and universities. AIMS stands on a legacy of academic excellence, being the first Oakland Public school to be named a National Blue Ribbon school in 2006.
Superintendent Maya Woods-Cadiz, an Oakland native, former OUSD student, parent, and administrator states, “We are excited, however, receiving this award is bittersweet. We appreciate the recognition and the affirmation of success, and yet mourn the fact that more children in our city are not prepared for college. As a Black female product of Oakland, I do what I do because excellence is possible if the right expectations and support are present. Students' success represents potential transformation in our city and our nation. At AIMS, we often remind each other that in doing this work, we are breaking generational cycles of poverty.”
AIMS K-12 College Prep cultivates a community of diverse learners who achieve academic excellence. Our commitment to high expectations, attendance, academic achievement, and character development results in our students being prepared for lifelong success. Learn more at aimsk12.org.
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