The Clear Lake Community School District announced that both Clear Creek Elementary and Clear Lake Middle School have been recognized as a 2022-23 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School.
Clear Creek is one of 492 elementary schools and Clear Lake Middle school is one of 212 middle schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Launch.
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S. It empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs.
To be eligible for the designation Clear Creek Elementary had to have more than 75 percent of the student body participating in the program. Clear Lake Middle School needed to have more than 50 percent of the student body participating and have 25 percent of students advancing to high school participate in two or more units during their time at the school.
Other eligibility requirements were offering at least one PLTW Launch or Gateway module at each grade level and participating in two or more units during their time at school. Each school also had to have strategies in place to ensure equitable access to students in regards to race, ethnicity, poverty, and/or gender.
Studies show that students decide as early as elementary school whether they like, and think they’re good at math and science, so it is important to engage them with critical and creative thinking projects. This helps them develop a passion for and confidence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects.
Research has also shown that middle grades play a pivotal role in influencing high school, college, and career success. During this transitional time, it’s crucial to provide students with access to relevant, engaging, and real-world learning experiences that illuminate the range of career paths and possibilities available to them.
“We are proud to recognize Clear Creek Elementary and Clear Lake Middle School 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 important work empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but also more generally in life and career.”
