McHarg Elementary Receives National Recognition for Commitment to Empowering Students
Named a distinguished school for STEM curriculum and career readiness.
Radford, VA – McHarg Elementary announced that it has been recognized as a 2022-23 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School. It is one of 492 schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Launch. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S.
The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, McHarg had to have more than 75 percent of the student body participating in the program and had to offer at least one PLTW Launch module at each grade level during the 2021-22 school year. McHarg offered one module each quarter in each grade level with 100 percent participation.
Studies show that students decide as early as elementary school whether they like, and think they’re good at math and science. Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.
“We are proud to recognize McHarg Elementary for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. "We congratulate them on this achievement and celebrate their important work empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but also more generally in life and career."
McHarg Elementary is part of a community of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a passion for providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s recognition program, visit pltw.org.
For more information on McHarg Elementary’s PLTW Launch program, contact Blenna Patterson at [email protected]