The Lewis Center for Educational Research
AAE Digital Filmworks Productions

School Information
The AAE (Academy of Academic Excellence) which opened its doors in 1997 got its start over 20 years ago, when a young teacher, Rick Piercy, set up a 10 inch telescope for kids to come out and witness the passing of Hailey’s Comet.  He thought he would be home early due to attendance being low, but after 200th guest looked through the scope he soon realized that there was a big interest in science and technology for young minds here in the high desert of Apple Valley, California. 

Rick approached the Principle of the school where he was teaching and asked if he could build a small building to house the telescope to get families out of the cold when gazing the stars. The Principle agreed as long as Rick raised the funds.  Rick and his friends went on to raise enough money to build not only the optical observatory, but 2 charter schools (one in Apple Valley and one in San Bernardino) providing a K-12 learning environment.  The Lewis Center for Educational Research, of which the AAE is a part of, draws so many children a lottery had to be put into place for students wanting to attend this amazing Charter School.

The Lewis Center partners with JPL (Jet Propulsion laboratory) and NASA, creating learning programs that touch children all across our country as well the world.  Congressman Jerry Lewis got involved due to Rick’s passion for helping students learn using hands-on methods, along with others, helped make the school what it is today. The organization changed its name to the Lewis Center in honor of the support given by Congressman Lewis.

Today the Lewis Center boasts new and creative learning, with an incredible staff of passionate teachers as well as innovative programs where children can learn and have fun at the same time. The school partnership with JPL and NASA allows students to use a gigantic radio antenna located at Fort Irwin, CA and feed real space data back to JPL scientists.  All while sitting in our mission control here in Apple Valley. Students from all over the world can drive our lunar robotic vehicles “via their classroom computers” in our life size moon creator located here on campus.

The campus is situated along the Mojave River and allows our students to perform real life science here on campus. We have a flowing river, woods, rocks, trails and our own man-made pond that is bringing back an extinct fish “The Mohave Tui-chub”. The school offers a Digital Film Studio program where students learn all aspects of guerilla filmmaking, making their own films for exhibition in our own Digital Film festival each year, as well as on the Internet. This unique program includes 8th to 12th graders.  Graduates have gone on to work in the film industry as well as attend film schools around the country for a degree in film. 

The school also boasts an Outreach program where students from other schools visit our unique Western Town. While here, they group their covered wagons off into the wild to pan for gold and trade for items once back at the town.  So many things are happening here at the Lewis Center that it is hard to mention all that we offer in this short article. We have an award winning JROTC Air Force program, art classes, marching band, concert band, strings class, dance classes, drama and more.  Visit our web site at www.lewiscenter.org  for more information.