Los Fresnos CISD Receives National Recognition from Project Lead The Way for Commitment to Empowering Students
Two middle schools named distinguished schools for STEM curriculum and career readiness
Los Fresnos, TX – Los Fresnos CISD announced today that Liberty Memorial School and Resaca Middle School have been recognized as a 2023-24 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Gateway Distinguished Schools. This honor is given to a select number of middle schools across the U.S. for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW. PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S.
“The opportunities Los Fresnos CISD offers all its’ students to explore curriculum in STEM fields is something we are all very proud of. Congratulations to the teachers and students,” said Valarie Londrie, Los Fresnos CISD Chief Academic Officer.
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, the selected Los Fresnos CISD schools 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 equitable access to PLTW courses.
Research shows that the 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 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.
“We are honored to recognize Liberty Memorial and Resaca Middle Schools 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 dedication to empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but preparing them for future careers and life beyond the classroom."
Los Fresnos CISD is part of a community comprised of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a commitment to providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s Distinguished Program Recognition, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition.
For more information on Los Fresnos CISD’s PLTW Gateway program, contact the Office of Academics at 956-254-5000.
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About PLTW
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) equips PreK-12 students for a STEM-driven world with teacher-empowered curriculum in computer science, engineering, biomedical science, and more. For over 25 years, PLTW’s curriculum coupled with its best-in-class professional development has supported teachers in creating an environment to make every student STEM successful. As a national nonprofit organization, PLTW is proud to reach 2.5 million students in elementary, middle and high schools in all 50 states. With over 100,000 trained teachers nationwide, PLTW brings relevant, hands-on learning to classrooms across the country.