TC Williams STEM Academy?

[Anonymous]

Would like to hear from parents with kids in this program - DC is very excited and would like to apply.

[Anonymous]

I've now seen multiple presentations about it, and I have to admit, I'm still skeptical. The presentation seemed to be long on style and short on substance. Lots of discussion about field trips and plans for talents shows, not a lot on the curriculum.
Also, as it's currently designed, students can enroll regardless of their math level. So, kids taking Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra II are all lumped together for the other STEM Academy classes. I'm thinking if the whole point is to help show connections between math, science, and engineering, it's probably more difficult to do that when you have such a wide range of academic levels. I'm left thinking they need to define STEM Academy more clearly. Instead of accepting everyone, make the program a bit more defined. I don't mean that it needs to be competitive in the sense that only advanced students should get in. In fact, I think it might be great if they more clearly defined as a program for motivated "average" students, they same type of students that are recruited for the AVID program.

At this point, based on what I've been able to learn, I wouldn't want my now-6th grader to apply. It would be great to hear from parents of kids currently enrolled, though!

[Anonymous]

See this post:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/355732.page#4552473

there is a link to some school board documentation also including a poll of the kids in the program