About

Welcome to Amesbury Innovation High School!

Amesbury Innovation High School was founded in 2001 as the Amesbury Academy of Strategic Learning, a Horace Mann Charter School. The school was founded by a group of caring educators and community members who saw a need for a more supportive environment for high school students. The school has gone through many changes over the years, refining best practices and leading the way for other schools with a similar vision.

The shift from a Horace Mann Charter School to an Innovation School has provided AIHS with many opportunities and more direct support from the school committee and school district. The growing support has meant more collaboration from other district schools and administration. It has allowed staff to continue to grow and fine tune the program at AIHS. Receiving the Stroke of Genius award in 2015 was an indicator the community recognizes the success of AIHS.

The focus at AIHS continues to be on the whole student. AIHS provides a smaller space for students to focus on themselves. Academically, students are held to the same benchmarks and standards as students in other public high schools. However, at AIHS we take the time to build individual plans for students based on their academic ability and learning style. This individualized approach builds confidence academically, as well as socially and emotionally. Often students have not felt successful in school for a number of years when they enroll at AIHS. Once their confidence starts to return, students become available to learning. Over their years with us, they push themselves beyond what they believed they were capable of.

From a therapeutic standpoint the school meets each student where they are emotionally and socially. Similar to academics, students often begin with us with very little self esteem. The entire staff work with students to build their self and social awareness. As their skills increase we see our students make better decisions for themselves and develop a sense of hope that they can lead happy and successful lives. The skills our students learn change the course of their lives. Family participation and support is also very important. We communicate with families regularly to discuss successes and provide guidance for families to be more connected with their children.

The school continues to be at the forefront of education academically and therapeutically. The school has gone through much change, survived many challenges, and built a positive reputation for itself over the years. AIHS is a warm and welcoming school that has earned this reputation with hard work and devotion.