Program Description:
The Lassiter High
School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy offers
students a rigorous curriculum driven by problem based learning and
project based learning in a student-centered
environment. In accordance with the Georgia Department of Education STEM goals, the Lassiter STEM Academy will:
·
Instruct
through rigorous and relevant curriculum
·
Empower
students to become innovators and problem solvers
·
Ensure
that all students have access to the appropriate technology conducive to
enhancing their STEM educational experiences
·
Nurture partnerships that allow schools and the business sector to
join efforts in improving students’
STEM-career opportunities
·
Increase
the number of students pursuing careers in STEM-related fields and/or post-secondary STEM related education/training
The Lassiter
STEM Academy is designed for students who have a desire and passion to pursue one of two STEM pathways: Engineering or Biomedical Science.
Senior STEM students will take part
in a cumulative research from their perspective pathway. Additionally, students will be required to complete
extracurricular requirements including STEM related competitions.
Students are
admitted into the specific STEM Academy major only in their freshman year.
Acceptance of admission into Lassiter’s Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy is based on an application reviewing their
academic performance and extracurricular participation in STEM related activities as well as an
interview conducted with a member of the STEM Academy committee.
Acceptance implies
that a student will remain an Academy student throughout their high school career in order to earn STEM designation.
Extracurricular
Requirements:
Students in the
STEM Academy will be willing to pursue STEM interest through their
participation in extracurricular
activities. Individual academic competitions will be embedded in the STEM
course work. During their
enrollment in the STEM Academy, student will be expected to participate in at
least one team competition activity
such as Debate Team, Robotics Team, Math Team, Odyssey of the Mind, Science Olympiad, Science Bowl or
Academic Bowl.
Project Lead the Way: Biomedical Sciences Pathway
The rigorous and
relevant four-course Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science sequence
allows students to investigate the roles
of biomedical professionals as they study the concepts of human medicine,
physiology, genetics, microbiology,
and public health. Students engage in activities like investigating the death
of a fictional person to learn content
in the context of real-world cases. They examine the structures and
interactions of human body systems and
explore the prevention, diagnoses, and treatment of disease; all while working
collaboratively to understand and design
solutions to the most pressing health challenges of today and the future.
Each course in the
Biomedical Science sequence builds on the skills and knowledge students gain in
the preceding courses. The STEM
Academy offers the three PLTW Biomedical Science foundation courses within a
period of three academic years from
the start of implementation and will offer the PLTW capstone course. Students
who wish to apply to the Biomedical
Science Pathway must meet the following requirements:
· Recommended for Honors or Accelerated Math and Honors Biology.
·
Complete
four years of PLTW Biomedical Science courses including the capstone course.
The following
information outlines the projected courses students in the Biomedical Science
pathway will complete upon
graduation. Please note that some courses are
mandatory.
9th Grade:
§ Principles
of Biomedical Science (Mandatory)
§
STEM
9th Grade Honors Literature (Mandatory)
§ STEM Honors Biology (Mandatory)
§
1
Honors or Accelerated Math Credit (Honors Geometry OR Acc. Math I OR Acc. Math II)
§
1
Foreign Language Credit
§ 1 Elective
10th Grade:
§ Human
Body Systems (Mandatory)
§ STEM 10th Grade Honors Literature (Mandatory)
§ STEM Honors Chemistry (Mandatory)
§
1
Honors or Accelerated Math Credit (Honors Algebra II OR Acc. Math II OR Accelerated PreCalculus)
§
1
World History Credit
§ 1 Foreign Language Credit
11th Grade:
§ Medical
Interventions (Mandatory)
§ STEM AP Physics 1 (Mandatory)
§ Accelerated Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus (Mandatory)
§ STEM 11th Grade Literature (Mandatory)
§ 1 US History Credit
§
1
Elective
12th Grade:
§ Biomedical
Innovations - Capstone (Mandatory)
§ AP Calculus OR Higher (Mandatory)
§
1
Advanced Composition Credit
§
1 Government and Economics Credit (½ credit each)
§ 1 Health
and Personal Fitness Credit (½ credit each)
§ 1 Elective
Project Lead the Way: Engineering Pathway
The hands-on PLTW
Engineering pathway engages students in open-ended problem solving, learning
and applying the engineering design
process and using the same industry-leading
technology and software as are used in the world’s top companies. Students are immersed in design as they
investigate topics such as sustainability, manufacturing, and the environment which gives them an
opportunity to learn about different engineering disciplines before beginning post- secondary education or careers.
Each course in the Engineering sequence builds on the skills and knowledge students gain in the preceding courses.
The STEM Academy offers the three PLTW Engineering foundation courses within a period of three academic years from the
start of implementation and will offer the PLTW capstone course. Students who wish to apply to the Engineering Pathway
must meet the following requirements:
· Recommended for Honors or Accelerated Math and Honors Biology.
·
Complete
four years of PLTW Engineering courses including the capstone course.
The
following information outlines the projected courses students in the
Engineering pathway will complete upon
graduation. Please note that some courses are
mandatory.
9th Grade:
§ Introduction
to Engineering Design (Mandatory)
§
STEM
9th Grade Honors Literature (Mandatory)
§ STEM Honors Biology (Mandatory)
§ 1 Honors or Accelerated Math Credit (Honors Geometry OR Acc. Math I OR Acc. Math II)
§ 1 Foreign Language Credit
§
1
Elective
10th Grade:
§ Principles
of Engineering (Mandatory)
§ STEM 10th Grade Honors Literature (Mandatory)
§ STEM Honors Chemistry (Mandatory)
§ 1 Honors or Accelerated Math Credit (Honors Algebra II OR Acc. Math II OR Accelerated PreCalculus)
§ 1 World History Credit
§
1
Foreign Language Credit
11th Grade:
§ Aerospace
Engineering (Mandatory)
§ STEM AP Physics 1 (Mandatory)
§ Accelerated Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus (Mandatory)
§ STEM 11th Grade Literature (Mandatory)
§ 1 US History Credit
§
1
Elective
12th Grade:
§ Engineering
Design and Development – Capstone (Mandatory)
§ AP Calculus or Higher (Mandatory)
§ 1 AP Science Credit (Mandatory)
o
AP
Biology
o
AP
Chemistry
o
AP
Computer Science
§
1
Advanced Composition Credit
§ 1
Government and Economics Credit (½ credit each)
§
1 Health and Personal Fitness Credit (½ credit each)