Arise High School celebrates one-hundred percent college acceptance for its first graduating class
- July 29, 2010
Oakland is a city where young people are forced to overcome vast economic, social, and political factors in order to have a shot at being college-bound. For the students at one charter school in Oakland, though, college is no longer a distant dream. They need only to look to their graduating class for inspiration.
This June marked ARISE High School’s first graduation ceremony, and it was more than just pomp and circumstance. All of ARISE’s graduating seniors were accepted by four-year colleges.
Some of the graduating seniors started their studies at ARISE in ninth grade like Ana Cristina Muro, who was accepted by two colleges. Others joined the ARISE community later in their high school careers, like Miguel Aquirre, who moved from school to school but always saw college as integral to success. After starting at ARISE his junior year, Aquirre was accepted by a four-year college as well. The school’s seventeen other seniors have been accepted to schools such as California State University, East Bay, Mills College, and St. Mary’s College, amongst others.
“A school is only as strong as the people who are a part of it”
The school’s name, ARISE (Authenticity, Rigor, Inspiration, Success, and Empowerment), is applied to the school standards of high expectations for its 220 students. But one hundred percent graduating acceptances was a process of hard work by the students, parents, and staff at ARISE.
ARISE’s founding leaders, Romeo Garcia and Laura Flaxman, share the Co-Principal administrative and leadership roles at the charter school. Together the combined educational experiences of the two Oakland educators are impressive, and their philosophy is clear. The motto on the ARISE High School website proclaims, “A school is only as strong as the people who are a part of it!”
The differences are apparent at ARISE, according to Mr. Garcia. "We get to know the students, the whole student in a holistic way. For example the public middle school counselors are under-resourced and overworked in a ratio of 700 students to 1 counselor in the educational system today."
The school’s focus is on preparing students of color from low-income Oakland families to be the very first in their families to attend college. Setting-up a small school in the inner-city is not an easy task to achieve, especially in a city like Oakland.I recently spoke with one of the school’s Co-Principals, Mr. Garcia, who says that there is no secret or magic to motivating the students.
"We compete with public and private schools for students, but ARISE gives students a second chance or opportunity to reframe their mindset and become college bound achievers,” he explained.
When asked whether ARISE could be an example for other schools in their push to get students on the college track, Mr. Garcia said simply, “Yes…in today’s world, it is difficult to teach a student if you do not take the time to get to know the whole person, it takes time to develop relationships over the years." And the students seem to agree, saying that the school has a “tight community.”
ARISE creates a community that is open to being flexible and human, so the students feel empowered to learn and study in a safe environment. The school tries to build confidence in the students ability to empower themselves at school and in their community. The one final requirement for graduating seniors is participation in an exhibition night in which each student gives a formal roundtable presentation in front of peers, families, and guests. The presentation focuses on their years at ARISE, complete with portfolios and proficiency papers.
Graduating senior Ana Cristina reflects on the ceremony, “It’s cool because we’re going to be the first ones and everybody’s going to remember us…I’m proud to be in the first graduating class because I think I have set an example for other people to follow.”
ARISE culture has accomplished a great task this year by giving the Oakland community new leaders for the future. Now let’s wait to see them give back after they graduate college.
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