This year’s cohort includes the largest number of secondary schools to engage in the certification process to date, as well as a new designation highlighting emerging STEM programs and leaders and the strides they are making to create an engaging STEM culture.
Locally, South Ripley Junior High School (SRJHS) has achieved newly earned STEM Certification, while Milan High School and North Decatur Junior/Senior High have received the newly-created Developing in STEM designation.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Principal Derik Hutton and the entire staff of SRJHS for working together to achieve STEM Certification. Even more impressive is the fact that our junior high school was the first school in the state to ever receive a perfect score on the rubric for STEM certification. The previous high score belonged to South Ripley Elementary School which just missed a perfect score by one point. That means the top two scores ever achieved on the STEM rubric are both South Ripley Schools,” said Superintendent Rob Moorhead. “Our school board set a goal during a strategic planning session five years ago to see all of our schools earn STEM Certification. We are pleased to be making progress toward achieving this lofty goal. This STEM Certification serves as just the latest in a long list of accolades for SRJHS and is another example of the great things happening at South Ripley!”
“I couldn’t be more excited for our students and staff at SRJHS to receive notification that we were named an Indiana Department of Education STEM Certified School! This recognition is the result of two years of hard work and collaboration between our staff and our community. We have always placed a high priority on preparing our students for success at their next level of education, but this award signifies that we are doing an excellent job at also preparing our students for the careers of tomorrow,” said South Ripley Junior High Principal Derik Hutton. “This process has allowed us to strengthen our partnerships with local businesses and leaders in our community and for that, I am very thankful. Our students at SR will benefit from those relationships as they enter the workplace someday. A special thank you goes out to our teachers here at SRJHS, our amazing students, the staff at SRES for their help in getting us started down the right path, Mr. Moorhead, and our school board for all of their support throughout this journey.”
“The schools we spotlight today have demonstrated a commitment to providing high-quality, engaging STEM experiences that not only support students in developing problem-solving skills but also prepare them for careers in emerging industries,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “As careers in STEM fields continue to drive our state’s economy, our role is to ensure every Hoosier student has access to high-quality STEM curriculum needed to meet both current and future demands.”
STEM Certification exemplifies a highly innovative approach to education, employing a great deal of inquiry, project-based learning, community engagement, entrepreneurship, student-centered classrooms, integration into humanities and related arts, and out-of-school STEM activities.
For secondary schools in particular, earning STEM certification requires heightened intention and coordination in terms of vision, scheduling, and interdisciplinary collaboration. More than 100 schools statewide hold STEM Certification.
This year’s schools that have newly earned STEM Certification are:
- Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center, MSD of Wayne Township
- Beveridge Elementary School, Gary Community School Corporation
- Canaan Community Academy
- Eastern High School, East Washington School Corporation
- Edgewood Middle School, Warsaw Community Schools
- Glen Park Academy, Gary Community School Corporation
- Graham Creek Elementary, Jennings County School Corporation
- Jasper High School, Greater Jasper Consolidated School Corporation
- Loogootee Middle School, Loogootee Community School Corporation
- Memorial Park Middle School, Fort Wayne Community Schools
- Mount Vernon High School, MSD of Mount Vernon
- Mount Vernon Junior High School, MSD of Mount Vernon
- South Ripley Junior High School, South Ripley Community Schools
- Union City Junior/Senior High School, Randolph Eastern Community School Corporation
- Washington High School, Washington Community Schools
- Weisser Park Elementary, Fort Wayne Community Schools
- Wes-Del Elementary School, Wes-Del Community School Corporation
- Wes-Del Middle/High School, Wes-Del Community School Corporation
This year’s schools that have renewed STEM Certification for an additional five years are:
- Barker Middle School, Michigan City Area Schools
- Helfrich Park STEM Academy, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
- Kennedy Academy, South Bend Community School Corporation
- Maconaquah Elementary School, Maconaquah School Corporation
- The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Monroe County Community School Corporation
Each of these schools completed a rigorous application and review process, which must be repeated every five years to remain certified.
A new designation has been added this year to highlight schools that have demonstrated significant progress in creating an engaging STEM culture and empowering students to create and innovate through integrated STEM learning experiences.
Schools designated as Developing in STEM Certification are:
- Cherry Tree Elementary School, Carmel Clay Schools
- Hammond Central High School, School City of Hammond
- Kingsford Heights Elementary School, LaPorte Community School Corporation
- Lynhurst Seventh and Eighth Grade Center, MSD of Wayne Township
- Milan High School, Milan Community Schools
- Morton Senior High School, School City of Hammond
- North Decatur Junior/Senior High School, Decatur County Community Schools
- Our Lady of Grace Catholic School
Each of these schools is continuing to establish infrastructure for sustainable, high-quality STEM education and will receive intentional, strategic support from IDOE as they progress toward STEM Certification.
View a complete list of Indiana STEM Certified schools here.
Schools interested in pursuing STEM Certification can review the guidance here.
