The definition of alternative education is very broad within the state of Oregon. However, the definition of success is narrow. Success for high school students is defined as the ability to graduate within four years and the ability to pass a standardized achievement test. When students and graduates of alternative education are asked to define success, they have broader, more nuanced ideas.

This research examined the idea of success from the perspectives of current students and graduates within alternative education in Oregon. Eighteen graduates and 27 current students participated in this qualitative survey research design study and shared their perspectives regarding the definition of success. The results in this study are narrowed into three categories: successful students (in general), successful self, and successful structure (of the school). The participants in this study believe that successful students are those who are intrinsically motivated and participate in “good student” behavior. They believe that they are successful because they are ambitious, they are driven toward their goals, and they have a supportive environment that nurtures student success. Participants’ feelings about alternative education are in stark contrast to the general public perception that alternative programs are last resort options. Instead, the participants in this study believed that they were more successful in alternative education than they would be in traditional public high schools.