One-Of-A-Kind School Celebrates New Home In Unique Educational Environment

Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS), in collaboration with The Museum of Flight and Highline Public Schools, celebrated the grand opening of its new campus on the grounds of The Museum of Flight Thursday.

To kick off the event, a specially-themed Alaska Airlines 737-900ER dubbed “Spirit of Education” delivered students and guests to The Museum of Flight, where they were greeted by classmates, parents, industry partners and elected officials, including Governor Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Ray Conner, Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden and Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant. Joining students on the flight was internationally-acclaimed engineer James Raisbeck, for whom the school is named.

After the plane landed, the group moved to the new school for a program showcasing both the significance of the RAHS model in public education and the unique private-public partnership that helped build the state-of-the-art learning facility. Tours of the new facility took place throughout the afternoon.

“Having this school on the grounds of the Museum of Flight, so close to more than 200 aviation industry businesses like Boeing and Alaska Airlines, gives our students something truly special – an unparalleled chance to be simultaneously immersed in learning and industry,” said Reba Gilman, CEO and Principal of Raisbeck Aviation High School.

Founded and operated by Highline Public Schools as an innovative math and science focused college preparatory high school, Raisbeck Aviation High School accepts students from across the Puget Sound region.

The only high school originally selected as a model for Washington’s STEM Lighthouse Program, Aviation High School (now Raisbeck Aviation High School) has already established itself as a statewide leader in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. With the opening of its new facility at The Museum of Flight, RAHS is now the only aviation-themed college preparatory school in the country to share resources with an aerospace museum.

The school’s proximity to The Museum of Flight and the nearly 200 aviation-related businesses that surround Boeing Field affords students the opportunity to be inspired and informed by the region’s aerospace leaders. Students are already taking advantage of the myriad unique opportunities available to them at the school’s new facility, as Raisbeck Aviation High School opened its doors for the first day of classes Monday, Sept. 9.

“We are honored to have Raisbeck Aviation High School on our campus at The Museum of Flight,” said Museum of Flight President and CEO Doug King. “We have always been committed to educating the next generation of great aviation and aerospace pioneers, serving over 150,000 students a year through our education programs. This unique partnership allows us to continue this great effort and inspire these STEM-focused professionals of the future.”

The school has already paired its students with more than 150 different mentors from various industry partners and organizations. In the summer of 2013, such industry partners and organizations, including Boeing, Planetary Resources and the Federal Aviation Administration, sponsored more than 170 internships for students at the school.

The Museum of Flight provided 46 internships to RAHS students over the summer. The Museum serves more than 150,000 students each year through a series of different educational programs and welcomes the opportunity to share our region’s strong tradition of aerospace ingenuity with RAHS students.

Corporations, private individuals and foundations contributed $16 million, or 35 percent, of the $44.5 million capital campaign to build the new school.

(Spirit of Education B737 image provided by the Museum of Flight)

FMI: www.highlineschools.org/raisbeckaviation