Raisbeck Engineering, James and Sherry Raisbeck, and their foundation have pledged $4 million to Aviation High School. Three million dollars of the donation will go toward construction of a new facility on the campus of The Museum of Flight in Tukwila. The school will be renamed Raisbeck Aviation High School.

James Raisbeck is a world renowned aerodynamicist and entrepreneur. He is most well known for founding Raisbeck Engineering Inc., which engineers and manufactures performance improvement systems for thousands of business and commercial aircraft worldwide.

“The technical world needs the graduates of Aviation High School to form the basis for future aviation experts in order for the United States to maintain its lead in advancing the application of advanced and ever more complex technologies,” said James Raisbeck. “By concentrating on the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), Aviation High School is accomplishing what others can only dream about. Sherry is an educator. I am an engineer. We have both worked hard to achieve the means to help here, and we are proud and humbled to do so.”

Aviation High School is an innovative public school that teaches a college-preparatory curriculum through an aviation theme. The school is administered by Highline Public Schools but accepts students from across the Puget Sound region.

“Aviation High School is an innovative model for how a public-private partnership can push students to higher levels of academic achievement,” says Superintendent Welch. “When government, schools, and the private sector come together to support young people, students and our economy both benefit.”

The Museum of Flight has invited AHS to be part of the expansion of its campus. The Museum has long had an active partnership with Aviation High School, providing robotics classes and free access to The Museum for students. “Education is central to the vision and mission of The Museum,” says its President and CEO Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar. “Our mission is well aligned with that of Aviation High School: to help address a state and national crisis in STEM education.”

Completion of the school’s new facility at The Museum will cost $43.5 million. Currently, about $18 million has been raised from both public and private sources.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn is enthusiastic about the school and the Raisbeck contribution. “It’s reassuring in these tough economic times to see a private group stepping up to help our schools,” he said. “We need schools that deliver a practical approach to learning, where students can see how to apply their education in real-world situations.”

“What I most appreciate about my high school experience is that I am applying math and science. I like the hands-on projects that we do in all our classes,” says Cole Miller, an AHS senior from Federal Way. “My classes are challenging, and my teachers have high expectations of me. I think I’m well prepared for college studies, and I’m planning on a career in engineering.”

(l-r) Aviation students Faiza Diriye & Navid Shafa, Principal/CEO Reba Gilman, The Museum of Flight President/CEO Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, James & Sherry Raisbeck.	Aviation student Jenny Gao shows her project to State Superintendent Randy Dorn.
Highline Superintendent John Welch with State Superintendent Randy Dorn.	James Raisbeck with Highline Board Members Julie Burr Spani, Sili Savusa, and Susan Goding.
Former Highline Superintendent Joe McGeehan and Jane McGeehan.