Frequently Asked Questions

Q.     What is Aviation High School?

A      Aviation High School is Washington’s first aviation-themed high school — an innovative, high performance school that opened in the Highline School District in 2004. The mission of the school is “to prepare students for college, work, and citizenship through a personalized, rigorous, and relevant learning experience that is facilitated in the context of aviation and aerospace.”

Q.     What makes Aviation High School (AHS) different from other high schools?

A.      AHS is a school founded on partnerships with the aviation and aerospace industries, higher education, parents and families, and the community at large. As such, learning will take place both inside and outside the school, and you will have many different “teachers” who contribute to your learning. You and your teachers will share a passion for learning in the context of aviation and applying knowledge and skills learned in school to real-world situations. Additionally, you will have a more personalized learning relationship with your teachers. They will know you well, and you will also get to know them on a personal and professional basis. One of your teachers will serve as an advisor, providing extra support and guidance to meet your academic, leadership, and career goals. Advisories are becoming increasingly common in today’s reform-minded high schools because, not surprisingly, educational research shows a clear connection between students’ social/emotional well being and their academic performance.  The basic purpose of advisory is to make sure every student in our school family feels included, well known, emotionally safe, respected, and supported in reaching his/her academic and life goals.  Each advisory works to achieve this in its own unique way through discussions, activities, games, readings, and so on.  Monday advisory typically includes reading the weekly NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) from the principal and dissemination of school-related information. You will also be connected with an industry mentor who takes a personal interest in you and your goals for the future.

Q.          What kind of classes do students take at Aviation High School?

A.           At AHS you will take all of the core subjects — math, science, social studies, and English — all  four years.  Learning experiences at AHS are geared to prepare you for both college and this century’s technology-driven workplace.  You’ll have the opportunity to learn about aviation from multiple perspectives through core subjects as well as seminars taught by school staff, community-college staff, and experts in the field of aviation.  AHS has no PE or music program, but PE credit may be earned on an individual contract basis.  As noted above, all students are assigned to a small Advisory group their freshman year with a member of the AHS staff. 

Your courses and seminars will be structured into two “Flights.”  In Flight One (grades 9 and 10), you will study math, science, English and social studies. You will also choose from a menu of electives (or seminars) which currently includes Aviation and American Character, Environmental Stewardship in the Age of Flight, Forensic Science, Robotics, Science Olympiad, Japanese, History of Aircraft Design, Visual Communication and Information Technology.    In Flight Two (grades 11 and 12), you will again take academic core classes and electives and will also have the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits.  All students take Ground School and earn college credit during either Flight One or Two.  Several Advanced Placement or college equivalent courses will be offered across the disciplines.  Students will also have the opportunity to learn in less conventional ways:  distance-learning programs, independent study, classes at South Seattle Community College, internships at local companies and organizations, research assistantships, and one-to-one mentoring relationships with aviation professionals and other subject matter experts.

The primary instructional method at AHS is inquiry-driven, technology-enhanced, and project-based.  Students will be expected to collect and use current information and authentic data to create knowledge products and form reasoned judgments — design, troubleshoot, improve, plan and carry out, inform, recommend, etc.  The learning objective at AHS is not to superficially cover a breadth of content, but to develop students’ deep conceptual understandings in each discipline through inquiry, investigation, and application.  The aim is for students to be able to use what they learn in school to solve real-world problems and demonstrate their competence by meeting rigorous, well-defined performance standards.  As such, you will not find the wide variety of elective courses that are often available in comprehensive high schools.  Our intent is to fill a need in your learning rather than a hole in your schedule!

Q.     Where is Aviation High School located?

A.     We are temporarily located at the former Olympic Middle School at 615 South 200th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198 (the previous interim site for Mt Rainier High School). We hope to move into our permanent location near Boeing Field for the 2011-12 school year.

Q.     Is transportation provided?

A.     Bus transportation will be provided to students living in the Highline School District service area. Students in nearby districts can also access Highline public school transportation by making arrangements through the school district transportation department.  Students from other area school districts will need to provide their own transportation. Public transportation is an option chosen by many AHS students.  A Metro bus stop is very close to the school.

Q.     Do students pay tuition?

A.     No.  Aviation High School is a public high school operated by the Highline School District. Eighth grade students who reside in the Puget Sound region can apply for admission to AHS as a school of choice. Students who reside outside the Highline School District will need to withdraw from the school district in which they currently reside because state funding follows the student to the district in which they receive educational services.

Q.     Are there dances and other extracurricular activities?

A.     Yes.  Aviation High School is a student-centered school. We rely upon students to share their interests and participate in planning and implementing both co-curricular and extracurricular activities. The school staff is committed to supporting activities that enhance the school culture and meet both the social and intellectual needs of students.  Last year’s inaugural freshman class organized a holiday dance and social, participated in a black-tie event at the Museum of Flight, visited the Flight Simulator/Games Department at Microsoft, and were the guests of Pacific Science Center’s Imax Theater premier of Operation Red Flag as well as other presentations.  In addition to extra-curricular activities, Aviation High School students have the opportunity to meet in clubs each week.  Some of our current clubs include Robotics, Journalism, Remote Control Airplanes, Speech and Debate, Japanese Culture & Travel, and Science Olympiad.  Recently, the ASB has formed a Social Committee to address the need to offer a variety of social opportunities for Aviation students. 

Q.     Are there sports programs at AHS?

A.     No, but we recognize the importance of physical fitness and team involvement and will do all that is possible to support our students’ goals in these areas.  Some AHS students join sports teams at a neighboring high school, but because of our later start and stop times and the challenges of coordinating schedules between two different schools, most choose to participate in club or intramural teams instead. Students at AHS also have the opportunity to compete in 'sports of the mind' through clubs like Robotics, Science Olympiad, and Speech and Debate. 

Q.     Do students take PE and Health?

A.     There will not be a regular PE class that meets during the school day; however, there will be an expectation for physical fitness. Students will have the opportunity to earn up to 1.5 PE credits through an individual learning plan.  Mission-Ready Health & Fitness will be offered as a seminar class.  It fulfills the 0.5 health credit requirement for high school graduation.

Q.     If I want to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc., can I still come to this school?

A.     Yes, as long as you are highly interested in and inspired by aviation and aerospace and are motivated by learning in this context.

There is hardly a field of study not impacted by aviation and aerospace, including medicine and health sciences, law, retail and personal services, government, information technology, etc.  But more importantly, we believe our approach to learning--learning to learn, analyzing and solving authentic problems in creative and logical ways, collaborating with team members, engaging with teachers and mentors who care about your future, and accessing college programs, etc.--will best prepare you for college, work, and citizenship whether you pursue a career in aviation/aerospace or not.  In other words, the education you receive here centers on developing thinking and performance skills that are transferable across all disciplines and to all professions.  An AHS education can only enhance and not limit your choices, whichever direction your future studies may take you.  But at the same time, ours is an unapologetically aviation-centric curriculum, so you need to be sure you have the interest to study this subject in different contexts and from many perspectives before applying.

Q.     Are there other theme-based schools with a focus other than aviation and aerospace?

A.     The Highline School District will be developing other small learning communities in the near future. It is anticipated that some may be theme or career-focused. Some districts have already developed small learning communities with a specific focus, i.e., the Tacoma School of the Arts and the Center School in Seattle (also an art-themed school). Some districts accept students from outside their district. You can find information about other small learning communities through district websites.

Q.      Does a student have to be a 'math whiz' to be successful at Aviation High School?

A.     Aviation is the application of math, science, and technology so it is essential that you have high expectations for your own learning in these areas.  You don’t have to find math easy, but you must be willing to apply yourself, do extra work, and seek tutoring if necessary to succeed in your math and science classes.  All students at AHS are required to take four years of math, beginning with first-year algebra (or higher).  This means that you are expected to complete one year of math beyond advanced algebra/trigonometry.

Q.     When will the school day start and end?

A.     Currently we begin at 9:00 am and end at 3:30 pm.  This may change somewhat for next school year.  But in keeping with research that shows a start time closer to 9:00 am has a significant positive impact on adolescents’ performance in school, and in order to accommodate those students who travel to AHS from significant distances, our school day will never begin before 8:30 am. 

Q.    How many students will be accepted to Aviation High School?

A.   Approximately 100 students each year are accepted. AHS's goal is to have a consistent 400 students. 

Q.     Why are only 100 students accepted per year?

A.     Our goal is to create a small learning community in which every student is well known, trusted, and respected. When schools become large and comprehensive, students oftentimes become lost in the system. Being small means classes will be smaller and more individual attention can be given to students to meet their particular needs. A small learning community also provides more opportunity for collaboration with parents and families, business, industry, colleges and universities.

Q.          Do students get to fly an airplane?

A.     Learning to pilot an airplane by yourself requires intensive training. The first step toward earning a pilot’s license — Ground School — is part of every student’s regular curriculum at AHS.  After successful completion of that step, we will work with you and your family to determine available options for further flight training.   

As part of the regular high school curriculum, you will have several opportunities to fly in small aircraft.  All freshmen get the experience of co-piloting an airplane via a “Young Eagle” flight courtesy of the Experimental Aircraft Association and local volunteer pilots.  Involvement in Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a great way to make sure you get to fly often.  A CAP squadron meets at Boeing Field each week.  Also, your designated mentor may be able to help you arrange other flight opportunities.

Q.          If I am accepted at Aviation High and find that I don’t like it, can I return to a district high school?

A.     For each applicant accepted at Aviation High School, approximately two students are turned away.  If you are invited to be part of the school, you and your parents should consider all opportunities that come with being a student at AHS as well as the challenges and responsibilities related to your participation.  If you have even the tiniest, nagging doubt about attending AHS for all four years of high school, this may not be the school for you.  We are looking for students who are willing to commit to a unique, rigorous learning experience and who want to be pioneers in building a new learning community.  New endeavors are not accomplished over night or even in a single year.  Our commitment to you will be unyielding throughout your four years of high school.  We will expect the same of our students and parents.

We are looking for students with a genuine interest in and passion for aviation and aerospace who will work hard to achieve high academic and performance standards.  We are looking for students who do not come here expecting all the same elective and extracurricular experiences of a typical comprehensive high school, but who, on the other hand, expect quite a number of extraordinary learning experiences not available at a typical high school.  Attending Aviation High School means that you may give up some things in order to gain other things you value more in the end.  We invite applicants willing to help us create and sustain a close-knit and unique public school community with a culture unlike any other — one we are immensely proud of because all students are able to realize challenging learning goals as well as some of their most cherished aspirations.

Q.          How long will you be accepting applications for next school year, and how do I check on the status of my application?

A.     We will be accepting applications from December through March or until we reach our enrollment goal of 100 motivated students.  You may contact Lenore Stark, Office Manager at 206-716-0006 to check on the status of your application.