HS+41+CTE+PLTW

** Clear **** Brook High School, Clear Creek High School, Clear Lake High School, and Clear Springs High School ** Lillian Wilson, Clear Lake High School Instructor and mechanical engineer, believes students will benefit from contact with engineering professionals. Wilson says, “There are local firms who recruit our students. These relationships often translate into internships, summer jobs, or work-based learning opportunities. Nothing is more valuable to students than seeing their learning come to life.” Such experiences will lead to significant student achievement, with students going on to study engineering and related fields after high school. Wilson says one reason for the engineering academy’s success is that it is not selective. Any student in CCISD who is interested in engineering is encouraged to participate in these courses. “We’ll take everyone,” she says. “Part of my job is to get students excited about engineering; another part is to help some students find out that engineering is not for them. But by giving every student a chance to participate, we draw a variety of skills and talents for different aspects of engineering.” Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Civil Engineering Architecture, and Engineering Design and Development are the courses that make up the Project Lead the Way program. The engineering smaller learning community is enjoying a boom in popularity. Enrollment has grown from 275 students in 2005-2006 to a projected enrollment of more than 900 students in 2009-2010.
 * PROJECT LEAD THE WAY  **
 * Under the guidance of experienced professionals, future engineers are starting on the path to becoming high-tech professionals at Brook, Creek, Lake, and Springs High Schools in CCISD.
 * Each high school is home to a school of engineering in CCISD. The school features curriculum from Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a nationwide program aimed at solving the United States’ engineer shortage.
 * CCISD began implementing Project Lead the Way in 2005. Currently, PLTW has nine instructors, and four of the instructors are trained engineers.