Aim High: Overview

Over the last 22 years, Aim High has changed the lives of over 5,000 low-income youth. By reaching youth during the critical transition from childhood to adulthood, Aim High instills a deep love of learning through an engaging, personalized and supportive summer school program. Aim High builds relationships one-by-one, providing a network of support around young people over the course of their years in the program. Aim High is the largest academic summer program provider in the Bay Area, operating campuses in San Francisco, Oakland and the Peninsula (East Palo Alto & Redwood City). The organization has grown from one site, serving 50 students in 1986, to eleven sites serving 950 students in 2007. Aim High has adapted and changed over time, but remains rooted in strong and lasting traditions and practices. Learn more about our summer program.

The foundation of Aim High is an intensive, engaging and challenging five-week summer school program for middle school students from low-income families. Students join after 5th or 6th grade, and participate for three or four consecutive summers. There are also extensive after-school and weekend opportunities during the academic year. Over 80% of our students graduate from Aim High in the summer prior to their freshman year in high school. Learn more about our students.

Aim High not only prepares students for success in high school and higher education, but is also committed to encouraging talented young adults to serve their communities and to consider teaching as a career. We hire and train hundreds of high school and college students to teach in the summer, and hire experienced teachers who mentor the younger, less experienced teachers in the program. One third of Aim High’s faculty members are graduates of Aim High and serve as powerful role models for our students. Learn more about our teachers.

Download a copy of Aim High’s brochure for a complete overview of the program.