This research study uses both qualitative and quantitative data to look at the effectiveness of the science program at an alternative high school in middle America. Descriptive case studies were used for the qualitative portion, and two Likert type questionnaires were used to collect the quantitative data. The case studies were developed on three students, selected for their various backgrounds. The students participated in one-on-one interviews with the researcher, completed two different questionnaires, and consented to be the object of classroom observations. Adam is a fifteen year-old white male who lives with his aunt. Betty is a 17 year-old Hispanic female who lives with her parents and is a mother to a two year-old son. Carrie is a 17 year-old white female who lives with her mother. Their unique life experiences provide insight into the importance of hands-on science with at-risk students. Information from the interviews is presented in a narrative format and the questionnaires and their results are provided in their entirety