High School STEM Education in Grand Junction, CO

STEM Education is Coming to Grand Junction, CO

Central High School in Grand Junction will be the first school in Colorado to obtain National Institute for STEM Education Campus Wide Certification.  Coloradans with STEM competencies will drive innovation and fuel our economy.  62% of the top jobs in Colorado require STEM skills.

What is STEM?  Stem stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives.  Science is everywhere in the world around us.  Technology is continuously expanding into every aspect of our lives.  Engineering is the basic designs of roads and bridges, but also tackles the environment and changes to our homes.  Mathematics is in every occupation, every activity we do in our lives.  By exposing students to STEM and giving them opportunities to explore STEM related concepts, they will develop a passion for it and hopefully pursue a job in a STEM field.

Central High School's program offers college credit, preparation for STEM majors and Robotics courses.  Twenty-seven teachers are working toward or have completed National Certification for STEM Education (NCST).  Thirty-five teachers have completed Project Based Learning training with the Buck Institute.

Through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, Central High School (CHS) promotes coursework that encourages and develops students' interest in these fields.  CHS has a STEM strand that all students may access.  The Science Department offers a wide variety of courses including Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics and AP Environmental Science.  CHS has an extensive Technology Education program which includes the Pre-Engineering classes of Introduction to Engineering and Principles of Engineering.  These courses feed into the Engineering Program at Western Colorado Community College and Colorado Mesa State. 

Students can earn college credit through this process. The Mathematics Department offers the upper level courses of AP Calculus1; AP Calculus 2, AP Statistics and College Algebra 113.  In nearly every class listed above, there is an opportunity for students to earn college credits.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%.  STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers.  Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy, and are a critical component to helping the U.S. win the future.

Meetings for parents and interested students begin in February.  Contact Phil Johnson at phil.jhohnson@D51schools.org or 970-254-6200.