High school recognized for PLTW program

Sparta High School has been recognized as a 2022-23 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School.

It is one of 262 high schools in the country to receive the honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW’s computer science, engineering, and biomedical pathways.

PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of preK-12 students and teachers in more than 12,200 schools in the United States.

“The experiences that our students have within the Project Lead The Way Biomedical Engineering Courses are about more than just science,” said Marisa Wilson, preK-12 science supervisor in the Sparta Township School District.

“These courses provide students with the opportunity to develop skill sets that will serve them in high school and beyond. Yes, the PLTW curriculum is wonderful, but it is truly our teachers who make this program come to life for students.”

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, Sparta High School had to meet these criteria in the 2021-22 school year:

• Had 25 percent of students or more participate in PLTW courses, or of those who participated in PLTW, at least 33 percent took two or more PLTW courses.

• Offer and had students enrolled in at least three PLTW courses.

• Have strategies in place that support reasonably proportional representation with regard to race, ethnicity, poverty and/or gender.

“We are proud to recognize Sparta High School for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs,” said David Dimmett, PLTW president and chief executive.

“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.”