There’s a stigma that comes with the words “Phoenix Alternative”. Some people believe that Phoenix is a place for delinquents, rejects, “dumb” and troubled kids who have no choice but to be here. Some believe that our students are just here because they have been kicked out of their previous schools and this is a last resort. While it’s true that this may be the case for a few, that’s not what Phoenix is all about.

Here at Phoenix, we don't follow a conventional school approach. In traditional school settings the classes tend to be larger, with teachers having multiple large classes to teach, making it difficult for them to assess the needs of all their students. Because of this, some students fall through the cracks. Phoenix Alternative is for those students, those who don’t quite thrive in a traditional setting.

The classes here are smaller, giving teachers the space and time to focus on each and every student individually, and allowing us as students, the type of environment we need in order to succeed. Schedules are individualized, putting focus on the classes needed in order to graduate. Phoenix understands that every individual learns at their own pace and in their own way, and they make it possible for every one of us to do so.

Phoenix Alternative’s small population has allowed us to really become a community, a family. This is what sets us apart from other schools. It is easier to make friends here, and people are accepting of each other. We all come from different walks of life, having our own struggles that can sometimes affect academic life, but the support system here is so strong, the staff goes above and beyond what you’d expect, enabling us to overcome our obstacles, much like a family. Like a family, we have our ups and our downs, but we always find ways to resolve issues by talking them out.

This is what Phoenix is for us.