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STISD Science Academy (Science Academy) announced today that it has been recognized as a 2023-24 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School, marking the sixth consecutive year the campus has earned this distinction.
Science Academy is one of just a few hundred high schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Computer Science and Engineering. PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in over 12,200 schools across the U.S, aiming to make every student in every grade STEM successful.
“Recognition as a PLTW Distinguished School is a tremendous honor for us as a campus community, as this achievement aligns perfectly with what we work so hard for as a school. We value our partnership with PLTW, and we truly believe all students should have access to these types of transformative learning experiences to better prepare them for college, career, and life,” said Eric Gutierrez, Science Academy principal.
The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, STISD Science Academy had to meet multiple criteria in the 2022-23 school year such as the number of PLTW courses available to students, percent of students enrolled in PLTW, percentage of students taking more than one PLTW course, and efforts to ensure equitable access to PLTW courses.
“We are honored to recognize STISD Science Academy for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. "We congratulate them on this achievement and celebrate their dedication to empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but also preparing them for future careers and life outside of the classroom."
PLTW high school programs prepare today’s students for the careers of tomorrow, by not only incorporating STEM skills into their learning but building students’ collaboration, teamwork and communication skills so they can be ready for whatever path they take.
STISD Science Academy is part of a community comprised of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a commitment to providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s Distinguished Program Recognition, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition.
For more information on STISD Science Academy’s PLTW programs, visit https://scienceacademy.stisd.net/ or call 956.565.4620.
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About STISD Science Academy
Science Academy is one of four high schools in STISD, a magnet school district serving students from Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. The state and nationally-recognized campus offers rigorous courses focusing on the various math and science fields, such as engineering, architecture and computer science. It is located on the north side of Expressway 83 on Mile 2 West Road in Mercedes. For additional information, visit www.scienceacademy.stisd.net or www.stisd.net.
Appendix
PLTW Computer Science
The PLTW Computer Science interdisciplinary courses engage students in compelling, real-world computer science challenges. As students work together to design solutions, they learn more than just how to code, developing computational thinking and communication skills for our increasingly technology-based economy.
PLTW Engineering
PLTW Engineering empowers high school students to step into the role of an engineer and adopt a problem-solving mindset. Students engage in collaborative, real-life activities like working with a client to design a home, programming electronic devices or robotic arms, and exploring algae as a biofuel source.
About PLTW
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) equips PreK-12 students for a STEM-driven world with teacher-empowered curriculum in computer science, engineering, biomedical science, and more. For over 25 years, PLTW’s curriculum coupled with its best-in-class professional development has supported teachers in creating an environment to make every student STEM successful. As a national nonprofit organization, PLTW is proud to reach 2.5 million students in elementary, middle and high schools in all 50 states. With over 100,000 trained teachers nationwide, PLTW brings relevant, hands-on learning to classrooms across the country. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.