MARYSVILLE – Sometimes all kids need is a boost.

Emily Shedd, 17, liked to “hang with jokesters, which doesn’t work well with learning” so she fell behind on graduation credits at Arts and Tech High School.

Anthony Yanez, 17, went to Arlington High School, but was “bad on due dates” and also fell behind.

Since February, they both have attended Mountain View Alternative High School and have been given a BOOST, an acronym for Believing in Offering Opportunities for Students Today.

With the program, students behind on credits can come in after school from 2:30 to 4 p.m. They get help from teachers like Marianne Pauley and Jay Belan.

“It’s the best two hours of the day,” Pauley said. “They work their tails off. They want to catch up.”

It’s been so successful that nine students are going to graduate on time that probably wouldn’t have without the program.

The program isn’t just helping seniors. Underclassman attend, too, as enrollment is abougt 40 for grades nine through 12.

It’s also not just for MVHS students. A Marysville-Pilchuck High junior is catching up so he can return to M-P next year and graduate with his class.

“Other schools can send kids to us, too, if they need an extra boost,” Pauley said.

Emily said she has a hard time focusing in school.

“I’d get in trouble so much for just sitting and doodling,” she said.

She is doing so much better with BOOST, where she learns more visually and independently using a computer.

“I love the part about no lecturing,” she said. “I don’t learn well listening.”

She’s completed three classes already and her success has carried over to other parts of her life. She isn’t sick as often and even rides a bicycle to school.

“I’m usually really lazy, only getting up for food,” she said. Here, “I just pound out all my classes.”

Emily said it helps that students she is close to aren’t around to distract her. She’s actually invited some of those friends, who like to procrastinate, to take BOOST so they can catch up, too.

Emily isn’t sure if next year she wants to stay with BOOST and graduate in December or “go back with the people I belong with.” Next year MVHS actually will move to the A&T campus at Tulalip, so she possibly could do both.

Meanwhile, Anthony said it bothered him that turning things in on time was so important at AHS. He could do great, but still get an F if it was late. But someone who did poor work could pass just by doing work on time.

“Here there’s not so much pressure,” he said. “It’s individual, do your own thing.”

He said at BOOST he started to do well right away.

“In public schools there’s a lot of unnecessary work you don’t need to do” to learn things, Anthony said.

He said he actually did well in school until his sophomore year, “when I got really lazy.” Once his grades fell, “it was hard to get back up.”

MVHS Principal Dawn Bechtholdt said the school set a goal last year to try to keep kids from dropping out by having flexible afternoon and evening programs. “Kids come from all different levels,” she said of students who need “personalized learning.”

School officials said BOOST is increasing attendance. About 27 students are on target to graduate in four years, 11 more at five years and six more at six years.

Pauley said students can take 25 different courses in BOOST. Pauley and Balan get help from subject teachers on the grading.

Students, even those who weren’t in school, found out about the program through word of mouth. They work at their own pace and can stay eligible by coming in just one hour per week.

“Whatever works for them,” Bechtholdt said.

She has a theory on why the kids are so successful .

“It’s more comfortable than a regular school,” she said. “It’s a small, quiet workplace.”

School board President Pete Lundberg said he appreciates the program.

“You never give up on kids,” he said. “I like the variety of options you offer to get things done.”