STEM³ Academy is a pioneering school that presents an entirely new model for educating special needs students from kindergarten through high school and beyond. We are paving the way to more independent lives for special needs students as well as filling the growing gap for skilled STEM workers nationwide. With a 28% increase in the number of special students enrolled in undergraduate STEM fields, we know there is a place for STEM³ Academy graduates in tomorrow’s workforce.
Mission, Philosophy and Learning Opportunities
STEM3 Academy is based on the following beliefs:Students with diverse needs are not less capable, not less able to flourish and produce real results; they are every bit as capable, often more so, than their typical peers.
Our students have exceptional talents, some nascent, and our task is to develop those gifts into excellencies while supporting their unique needs.
A sense of awe and wonderment at the world around us is natural to all children and we are dedicated to support them in their explorations.
A STEM-based education provides the strongest foundation for students of all interests because of the pervasive influence of technology in the world and the countless opportunities for interaction.
Opportunities in STEM fields play to the strengths of our students in ways that were previously impossible. Our role is to encourage and develop those strengths.
Considerable evidence indicates that students benefit by starting to develop STEM skills such as computer programming, building, making, and engineering solutions to real-world problem at a young age.
Life After Graduation
STEM3 Academy is designed to help our graduates find pathways to meaningful work after they graduate from high school or college. Too often, smart young adults with learning differences are either underemployed or unemployed as they enter young adulthood. This disconnect between ability and success signals lost opportunity for individuals and their families; it also represents a rich, untapped resource for the nation. Economists report that the U.S. is poised to experience a severe shortfall of skilled workers to fill some 8.65 million jobs in STEM related fields. Special needs students can help fill that gap.STEM jobs do not all require a college degree. One report* indicated that fewer than half of entry-level STEM jobs require a bachelor’s. Of course, a bachelor’s degree does help to boost salary — the average advertised starting salary for entry-level STEM jobs with a bachelor’s requirement was 26% higher than jobs in non-STEM fields. There were 2.5 more entry-level job postings for a bachelor’s degree recipient in a STEM field than in non-STEM fields.
Thanks to Live Science for the info on STEM.