APS opens science, math school

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Emmons
  • Nucleus Journalist
For parents here looking for an alternative to the traditional education system offered in Albuquerque, there is a unique charter school that caters to gifted high school students who are academically inclined in the math and science arenas.

Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science@UNM is a charter school within the Albuquerque Public School system geared toward giving students a more one-on-one, hands-on approach to real-world issues alongside a rigorous academic schedule. The school is special, also, in that it requires college classes to run concurrent with the high school schedule, therefore giving students a heads-up on their college careers.

Students at AIMS@UNM will enroll concurrently at the University of New Mexico during their junior year, and begin working on their college education while earning their high school diploma.

The school began under the vision of Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, who saw a need for such a school in efforts to not only improve educational opportunities in New Mexico, but also to attract industry and families in the military, said Kathy Sandoval, director of AIMS@UNM.

AIMS@UNM is the only high school affiliated with the University of New Mexico.
"Because of our commitment to exposing our students to the real world, to college courses and hands-on projects, we look and feel different from a traditional high school," Ms. Sandoval said.

Instruction at AIMS@UNM includes project-based learning, is multidisciplinary and curriculum is focused on math and science. Ms. Sandoval and her faculty use the curriculum using the Socratic practice, stressing team and individual rigor, concurrent enrollment, internships and mentorships and by maintaining a close relationship with the community.

"The school's mission statement is to educate an intellectually gifted blend of culturally, ethnically and economically diverse students in a culture of rigor and strength of fortitude," Ms. Sandoval said, "driven by motivation, fueled by innovation and guided by a Samaritan heart."

Ms. Sandoval said that the schools goal is to create a generation of thinkers and to create a culture of curiosity through critical thinking, collaboration and hands-on technological training to prepare all students for successful college careers.

The academic courses are designed to connect with in-the-field experiences and internships wherein curricular projects relate to real-world problems, the technology resources reflect those of the modern workplace and all students participate in work-site internships.

Every six weeks, Ms. Sandoval said, the students are given a big project to work on. The project always focuses on a social problem.

Currently, the students are working on a project on how to approach homelessness in society.

"They are applying their academics and insight into solving major social issues and they get to determine what a just world would be like," she said.
The next big project, she continued, will hone in on terrorism.

"The student body here consists of those who will definitely be going to college, and many of their courses count toward their college degrees," she said. All students are required to take classes at UNM concurrently, and to graduate with college credits.
All students attending AIMS@UNM must also attend classes at a post secondary institution, namely UNM, during their high school career.

There are now 120 students attending AIMS and the student to teacher ration is 15 to 1.
Another issue that sets AIMS@UNM aside from traditional high schools is that the faculty has daily contact with the parents.

"Our biggest problem here is that the occasional student doesn't turn in homework, in which case the parent will be contacted immediately," Ms. Sandoval said.
The school revolves around its close administration and faculty and the relationship they have with the parents.

"The students here get a private school education for free," Ms. Sandoval said. "We take academics here very seriously and we raise the bar high. If the bar is set high, the students will reach it - they have a greater potential than many give them credit for and at our school, we expect the bar to be higher than at other public schools.

"The students here also have a greater sense of maturity since they attend school on a college campus - they have to," she continued. "This is for your highly motivated math and science student who is gifted and serious about their academic career."

AIMS plans to serve 360 students in grades 9-12 by 2008. The school also plans to incorporate a mid-school and by 2008, a sixth grade class will also be included, and every year subsequent, another grade will be added to include seventh- and eighth-grades.

Ms. Sandoval, former principal of the Career Enrichment Center and the Early College Academy, joined the school in September 2006. Polly Azar serves as dean of students.

"I am a veteran principal and I know how to get things done, so I hit the ground running," Ms. Sandoval said. "Within a month of coming on board, I had my program in place.

"I took this new role because of the possibilities for AIMS@UNM," she continued. "This school is unique because of its partnership with the university, its supportive relationship with the City of Albuquerque and a constant message that a four-year degree is in the future of all of its students."