^{Print department information sheet}

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a national non-profit engineering and biomedical sciences education program found in approximately 3,000 secondary schools in all 50 states nationwide.  Its sequence of courses, when combined with appropriate mathematics and science courses in middle and high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering, technology, and biomedical sciences prior to entering college.  The programs’ formal curriculum is rigorous and contemporary, problem/project-based, and is supported by relevant teacher professional development which is provided in a required immersion format and further augmented in an ongoing manner through a web-based Virtual Academy.

Department Highlights

• As of June 2011, CJ is the only Catholic high school in the nation -- and only one of four secondary schools in Ohio -- to be dually certified in biomedical sciences and pre-engineering by Project Lead the Way.  

• College credit is available for students who successfully complete the PLTW coursework and national exam.

• The PLTW curriculum is rigorous and contemporary, problem/project-based, and supported by ongoing teacher professional development.

• State of the art software is utilized in the PLTW courses, including Autodesk Inventor 3D CAD, RoboPro, LabView, and MultiSim.

• Beyond PLTW, all CJ students are provided numerous opportunities to explore STEMM fields of college and career preparation Programs include events and student competitions at CJ, in the local community, at area colleges and universities, and nationwide.

• The monthly STEMM Idol Speaker Series features a local professional who practices in a STEMM field.

• Numerous CJ parents and alumni are involved, serving as STEMM Idol speakers, mentors to CJ students, job shadowing and worksite tour hosts, and judges for competitions and science fair.

• The CJ STEMM Scholar program offers opportunities to local elementary and middle school students such as the annual STEMM Summer Camp, after-school worksite tours, active learning experiences at CJ, and outreach to math and science teachers.

• Students learn through real world experiences from hands-on activities, field trips, and presentations from experts and professionals in STEMM fields.

• STEMM programming allows students to explore the possibilities in high demand high wage careers that make a difference in society.