Model and Strategy
Aim High champions the transformative power of early adolescence, recognizing middle school as a critical inflection point in a student’s academic and personal development. With a focus on middle schoolers from low-income communities, Aim High bridges the opportunity gap through a free, multi-year summer enrichment program that integrates academic readiness, social-emotional development, and college and career-connected learning.
Its five-week summer program is designed to spark a love of learning, build confidence, and strengthen the foundation for high school and beyond. In 2024, Aim High served 1,853 students across 16 sites—97% of whom were students of color, 91% from low-income households, and 54% multilingual learners. Most will be the first in their families to attend college. The program integrates three key pillars:
- Academic Readiness: The curriculum is rooted in project-based learning, a hands-on, inquiry-driven model that helps students apply academic skills—especially in STEM—to real-world problems. Projects are intentionally designed to embed key mathematical concepts, supporting algebra readiness at every grade level.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Students receive daily SEL support and mindfulness practice. By strengthening self-awareness, relationship skills, and confidence, Aim High creates a joyful learning environment where students feel seen and supported.
- College & Career-Connected Learning: Students explore future pathways through project themes, field trips, and mentorship. Early exposure to careers and higher education helps shape long-term aspirations and purpose.
The curriculum evolves with student needs and environmental challenges. In response to pandemic-related learning loss, Aim High is deepening its focus on math skills. In 2025, a new curriculum specialist will refresh the organization’s math approach to further strengthen algebra preparedness.
Aim High also invests deeply in educators through a unique team-teaching model and robust professional development. More than half of Aim High’s teaching staff are program alumni, reflecting a powerful investment in cultivating future leaders from within the community. Since 1986, over 4,000 educators have been trained through the program.
Over the next two years, Aim High plans to expand to 17 sites and serve more than 1,900 students across eight Northern California counties. Through innovation, community partnership, and a commitment to equity, Aim High prepares middle schoolers not just for high school—but for lifelong success.
Impact
For nearly 40 years, Aim High has been a trusted leader in educational equity, delivering transformative summer learning experiences to middle school students across Northern California. Since its founding in 1986—with just 50 students at one San Francisco site—Aim High has reached more than 20,000 youth through its free, five-week academic and enrichment program. Today, the organization serves over 2,000 students each summer, supporting academic achievement, social-emotional development, and a deep sense of belonging.
Aim High’s impact is both wide-reaching and long-lasting:
- 98% of alumni enroll in college or post-secondary education, with 85% on track to become first-generation college graduates.
- 89% of students report increased confidence in core academic subjects, helping to prevent summer learning loss and strengthen skills in math, reading, and science.
- 98% of graduates complete high school, surpassing national and statewide averages.
- More than 50% of teachers are Aim High alumni, reflecting a thriving leadership pipeline and a powerful model for nurturing future educators.
- Over 4,000 educators have been trained through Aim High’s program, with 89% saying it allows them to “be the kind of teacher I want to be.”
A 2019 Stanford University study confirmed the program’s lasting impact, linking Aim High participation with improved attendance, reduced suspension rates, and higher test scores. Stanford researchers calculated that if all low-income middle school students in California had access to Aim High, 12,000 fewer students would be chronically absent each year.
Beyond the data, Aim High’s greatest impact is deeply personal. Students return year after year because they feel safe, seen, and supported. Families consistently report that Aim High is often the first place where their child feels confident, engaged, and excited about learning. These relationships—between students, educators, and communities—are the heart of the program.
Leadership
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Jesús Galindo
CEO
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Leticia Dorado
VP of Teaching & Learning
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Benjie Achtenberg
VP or Program
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Jessica Pullano
VP of Development