By Jo Cox—
YORKTOWN, IN– Yorktown Middle School announced today that it has been recognized as a 2024-25 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School. This honor is given to a select number of middle schools across the U.S. forproviding broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Gateway, 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, Yorktown Middle School had to meet a varietyof 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 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 learningexperiences 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 criticaland creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop confidence in STEM subjects.
“We are proud to honor Yorktown Middle School for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences through PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. “This achievement celebrates their dedication to student achievement and their focus on empowering students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in school and a wide range of post-secondary opportunities.”
Yorktown Middle School 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
