Since 2019, Villa Joseph Marie has been a proud partner with Project Lead the Way in bringing the students an engineering curriculum. This program empowers students to step into the role of an engineer, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and make the leap from dreamers to proactive doers. Each PLTW Engineering course engages students in interdisciplinary activities like working with a client to design a home, programming electronic devices and robotic arms, or exploring algae as a biofuel source. These activities not only build knowledge and skills in engineering, but also empower students to develop essential skills such as problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and perseverance.
Over the last four years, 25% of students participated in a PLTW course at Villa. The National Center for Education statistics show that only 5% of graduating females had taken an engineering course during their high school years. This means VJMHS is exposing young women to engineering courses at a rate five times higher than the national average. Fifty-five percent of recent Villa graduates entered college with a STEM major after participating in the program, with many accepted into top engineering universities. With this strong interest of our students, the program’s potential for growth is exponential.
Through a grant awarded to Villa by Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a wider range of Engineering courses designed to prepare students for careers in STEM fields will be offered at Villa, including a Principles of Biomedical Science class, which will be added as a new offering for the 2024-2025 school year, and a Human Body Systems class to be added in the 2025-2026 school year. The expansion of Villa's Engineering program is a testament to the school's commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world. Science teacher and department head John Gentile comments “With the support of PLTW, we're confident that Villa will continue to be at the forefront of STEM education for years to come.”
