For the ninth consecutive year, Madison Middle School has been named a Distinguished School in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) STEM program. This honor is given to a select number of middle schools across the U.S. for their commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in career-connected learning through its PLTW Gateway program, a grade 6-8 STEM curriculum.
PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that creates transformative learning experiences and empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills for future careers.
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, [School] 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.
Research shows that middle school 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 expose the range of career paths and possibilities available to them. 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.