Our middle and high school satellite STEM programs have been designated as Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools and were recently honored for offering transformative educational opportunities for students. These innovative programs currently serve nearly 3,500 students in each of our partner school districts including, Berea, Brooklyn, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville.
Our middle school programs at Brooklyn, Berea-Midpark, Mayer (Fairview Park), North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville Middle Schools were recognized for increasing student access, engagement and achievement in their PLTW Gateway programs. This is a special honor as very few middle school sites across the U.S. received this designation. To be eligible, each school location had to meet a variety of criteria, such as the percentage of students participating in PLTW, the percentage of students who participate in more than one PLTW unit, the number of PLTW units offered and efforts to ensure access to PLTW courses.
Through Project Lead the Way Gateway programs, students develop STEM knowledge and gain in-demand skills in a fun and engaging setting that they can use in high school and beyond. Whether designing an automated robotics system or exploring aerospace by creating designs and prototypes, PLTW Gateway students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills and develop confidence in STEM subjects. We currently offer the following middle school courses: Automation & Robotics, Design & Modeling, Green Architecture and Medical Detectives.
Not to be outdone, our high school satellite STEM programs at Berea-Midpark, Fairview, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville High Schools also received the PLTW Distinguished School designation and were recognized for their commitment to excellence. This is no small feat as a small percentage of high schools nationwide received this award. To be considered, the schools had to meet multiple criteria in the 2023-24 school year, such as number of PLTW courses available to students, percent of students enrolled in PLTW and percent of students taking more than one PLTW course.
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. We currently offer high school Project Lead the Way classes in Biomedical Science and Engineering. These innovative and engaging programs prepare students for college and exciting STEM-related career opportunities.
“We are proud to honor Polaris for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences through PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. "This award celebrates their dedication to student achievement and their focus on empowering students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in school and a wide range of post-secondary opportunities.”
This is a HUGE honor! Congratulations to our staff, students, school and industry partners!