Note to readers • This is part of a collaborative project between The Salt Lake Tribune and the Cougar Claw, Kearns High School’s student newspaper. Read more about these young Utahns’ experiences and perspectives here.

I know some parents who wouldn’t consider sending their kids to Kearns High School because it’s on the west side and is considered a “ghetto” area.

It’s true that, when compared to most schools in the Granite School district, Kearns High School has lower scores. Although our test scores are below average compared to other high schools, like Skyline, the students at Kearns with the lowest test scores are continuing to improve. Nearly 61% of the lowest performers showed significant growth, according to our school report card put out by the state.

I think this shows how the students at Kearns are trying their hardest to improve — in several ways. Students are trying to get to class on time, doing their homework and turning it in on time, and working to become better students all around.

Each spring, the students in the Granite School District are tested on what they have learned in each of their core classes. The scores show how much improvement, or growth, each student has made. Growth rates are often overlooked because people look at overall scores instead of improvement to show that they are better than other schools.

But Kearns High School is more than a collection of statistics, it’s a community that looks out for each other.

I have peers that inspire me — and probably other students — to try harder with their dedication, their mindset of trying their best and their ability to keep trying when they don’t get the score they like. One specific peer that I have likes to have all As and have a high GPA, which I know will help her get into college. That’s a big goal for me — to make it to college and succeed in college.

It’s not easy to get good grades to increase your GPA. I have had to stay late after school to retake many tests just to boost my grade by a 0.5. Sometimes that 0.5 feels very discouraging, and I’ll think that it isn’t worth it, but it can make all the difference when I’m trying to get from a 3.5 to a 4.

I’ve seen some students give up on their education entirely because they don’t understand something or because they don’t like the teacher. My math teacher has to deal with a group of students who refuse to work or cooperate with her because they don’t like her. Most days they talk back and give her attitude. Whenever there is a punishment for their actions — like getting an office referral or getting their phone taken — they throw a fit about it and make it harder for the rest of the class to learn and move on.

When that happens there are students who know the subject well enough that they can teach and kind of tutor the other students and help keep the class going forward. The students that help the other students typically have the better grades in the class. I’ve seen them care enough about their peers to help each other out. I have been helped by a peer in my history class and in my math class. Some people learn better from peers than teachers, so this mini lesson by helpful students can really boost understanding of a subject.

To me, it’s important to stay in the Kearns community to combat the idea that it’s bad. Kearns needs to be recognized for how amazing it actually is — and for the fact that the kids at Kearns are trying to overcome the bad test scores and put in the extra hard work. We want to fight for our home.

I’m inspired by my former junior high English teacher, Lauren Wilder, who teaches at Jefferson Junior High in Kearns and is well known in our community. I recently asked her, “Do you think that people don’t want to come to Kearns or live in Kearns because of the stigma around it?”

She told me: “I’m sure there are people who wouldn’t want to be at Kearns because of the stereotypes, but I also think that it’s important to stay in that community and fight for the community.”

“I don’t just work here,” she said. “I live here in Kearns, and I wouldn’t leave even if I had a million dollars. I wouldn’t just get up and leave because I love the community that I teach, and there are a lot of wonderful people, and it’s definitely somewhere to stay and fight for.”

I think that Kearns should be looked at in a more positive way by other people and schools instead of being looked down on. This community works hard to be better and grow together, despite the stigmas.

Jacob A Hymas II is a sophomore at Kearns High. He likes cars, legos and writing. He is a writer for the Kearns High Cougar Claw.

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