Scotlandville Magnet High School students (all juniors in the school’s Academy of Engineering) with their Project Lead The Way School banner after receiving national certification:  (left to right, first row) Aaron Collins, Melissia Porter, Jakara Judson, Ronlonda Robinson, Alexis Johnson, Trenton Richardson, (second row) Kiara Jones, Bryesha Davis, Kelsee McNeeley, Michala Newsom, Jhade Parker, (third row) Haylea Rheams, Octavious Daniels, Paris Coleman, Jyrian Page and John Carmouche.

Scotlandville Magnet High School and its Academy of Engineering are heading in the right direction when it comes to innovative and original engineering programs for students.  The school recently received its national Project Lead The Way (PLTW) certification.

The school “passed with flying colors,” according to the program’s announcement.  Certification tour group members unanimously agreed Scotlandville High met or exceeded the criteria to be labeled as a certified PLTW campus.  Only Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Middle School also is participating in the program locally, and it also is working towards certification.  PLTW prepares students to be the most innovative and productive leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and to make meaningful, pioneering contributions to our world.  It involves partnerships with middle schools and high schools to provide a rigorous, relevant STEM education. Through an engaging, hands-on curriculum, PLTW encourages the development of problem-solving skills, critical thinking, creative and innovative reasoning and a love of learning.  The program is the largest non-profit provider of innovative and rigorous STEM education programs.

According to Theresa Porter of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s Magnet Schools Program, the school earned the national certification because “first, all teachers assigned to teach courses in the Academy were trained and qualified to do so.  Scotlandville High also was able to demonstrate that an effective assessment process was in place and was used as a measuring tool to chart students’ progress.”

In addition, the school’s counselors were trained to assist students with their career paths/choices relating to PLTW. “The certification team noted, surprisingly, that despite being a new principal, Ernest Morris was able to articulate and define the goals of the programs and also attended administrative certification training to make sure the school was prepared for the certification process,” Porter said.

According to the report, the national certification team commended the school for the following:
1. There was strong evidence of a team effort.  There was a very noticeable and a positive rapport existed between teachers and students.
2. Students in the program exuded pride.  Their feeling of ownership seemed to progress as they matriculated in the program.
3. The quality of students’ work was evidence the program was implemented with fidelity.
4. The student enrollment is steadily increasing.  The retention rate in the program is about 80 percent, which is significantly higher compared to other areas of the country.
5. The number of females (60 percent) enrolled in the program are disproportionately higher than other areas of the country, which currently averages about 20 percent.
6. It is evident that teachers go the “extra mile” for students and give students strong support.
7. An effective tutoring program is in place.
8. There’s strong evidence that teachers also serve as advisors to students in conjunction to the role that counselors serve. 
9. During classroom observations, the team noted students were actively engaged and learning.
10. Cross-curriculum support (and integration) was observed throughout the school.
11. The district’s commitment to provide an engineering facility was instrumental in helping the school meet its goal to establish a “true” engineering program.
12. The partnership connection was very strong -- more than most PLTW schools’ partnerships.
13. Students are on-track in their math courses.  It was noted these students will not have to take remedial math once they enter college.
14. Students cited how they use engineering concepts at home to fix and repair household items.
15. Students also boasted they like to impress and engage their parents in the learning process by demonstrating what they’ve learned in their engineering classes.
16. All students had aspirations of going to colleges.

“Scotlandville High now will be listed as a PLTW model school,” said Beatrice Arvie, who heads the PLTW program at the school.  “This is our third year in the program at the high school.  It is so vigorous, but the kids are learning so much.”

The PLTW middle and high school STEM education programs give students a brighter future by providing them with a foundation and proven path to college and career success in STEM-related fields. STEM education is at the heart of today’s high-tech, high-skill global economy.

Nationally, more than 350,000 students at nearly 4,000 schools have taken part in PLTW classes. PLTW hopes to reach more than 1 million students each year by growing to 10,000 implementations by the 2015-2016 school year.  Nearly 13,000 teachers and 8,000 high school counselors across the nation have undergone advanced training with PLTW. That network includes 500 Core Training Instructors who are the best and brightest STEM educators in the country.  In addition, the program has cultivated partnerships with more than 100 institutions of higher learning to create additional opportunities for our students and teachers.  PLTW alumni study engineering and technology at 5 to 10 times the rate of non-PLTW students and have a higher retention rate in college engineering, science and related programs.  In addition, 80 percent of PLTW seniors say they will study engineering, technology or computer science in college whereas the national average in 32 percent.  For more information, contact Arvie at (225) 775-3715.