Fifty percent of Tombstone High sophomores passed the Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards test on their first attempt last year, ranking the school 188 out of the 396 Arizona high schools.

"This is why we took the necessary steps and implemented programs so our students could be more successful," Superintendent Karl Uterhardt said.
The state readjusted the math requirements on the test in 2010, making it more difficult, and Tombstone, along with most of Arizona, experienced a dip in its performance on the math section.

To solve this, school officials hired a Title 1 math teacher who works primarily with students who still need to pass the AIMS test, and also offer AIMS tutoring in the mornings throughout the week leading up to the test.

The math teacher is paid out of the school's Title 1 grant, which it qualifies for because of Tombstone's high percentage of students from low-income families.
Hired after the low AIMS math results last year, Michael Bragg is the teacher in charge of helping students succeed on the AIMS tests.

If an incoming freshman tests in the lower 50 percent on their math placement test or if a junior or senior still needs to pass the AIMS test, he or she will be placed in his math intervention course.

But he sees a big problem with the test.

"Some of my students are being tested on Algebra 2 and Geometry, and they haven't even taken those courses yet," said Bragg. "When a student doesn't pass a math course in the beginning of their high school career, it becomes very difficult for them pass the AIMS math test."

Each student is given five chances to pass the test: once sophomore year, and twice during his or her junior and senior year.

If a student can't pass the test in the five allotted times, they can still get a diploma.

In his six years as principal at Tombstone high, Robert Devere has never had a student not graduate because of the AIMS test.

"There can be accommodations," Devere said "If a student didn't get a high enough score, they can get additional points on their test with other activities being put on their augmentation worksheet."

So what exactly does the AIMS test examine?

"It tests what that particular student knew on that particular day," said Uterhardt, who is also the AIMS coordinator for the Tombstone district. "Did he have a fight with his girlfriend? Did he get a good breakfast and a good night sleep? It's not the best way to test what kids know."

Devere agreed.

"It's not an all encompassing knowledge test," he said. "But it never really mattered how we felt because it comes from a higher power, and all we can do is prepare the students."

Students take the AIMS test third grade through eighth grade, skip freshman year, and then the official test begins sophomore year.

Tombstone sophomores took the reading and writing portion on March 1 and 2 and will take the math section on April 5.

Parents and students can learn more about the test by visiting www.ade.az.gov/aims/students.asp