Mt. Comfort Elementary School students explore building cubes and triangular pyramids with marshmallows and toothpicks. The school was recently recognized by a national organization for broad learning opportunities.
Submitted photo
FORTVILLE – Four Mt. Vernon schools have been recognized by a national organization for providing broad access to transforming learning opportunities for students.
Fortville Elementary, McCordsville Elementary, Mt. Comfort Elementary and Mt. Vernon Middle School have been recognized as Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools for the 2022-23 school year.
The elementary schools are three of 492 schools across the U.S. to receive the honor of being a PLTW Launch school, according to a press release from MV.
MVMS is one of 212 schools to receive the honor of being a PLTW Gateway school.
All four of the schools are retaining this distinction from last year.
“We are proud to recognize Fortville Elementary, McCordsville Elementary, Mt. Comfort Elementary and Mt. Vernon Middle School 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.”
PLTW is an organization that provides resources and teacher training to about 12,200 schools in all 50 states, according to pltw.org.
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, schools had to meet a variety of criteria. Elementary PLTW Launch schools had to have at least 75% of the student body participating in the program, while the requirements to be a PLTW Gateway school for middle schools are far more extensive. Gateway designation requires 50% of the student body participating in PLTW Gateway, participate in two or more units during their time at school, offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit at each grade level and have strategies in place to ensure equitable access to students.
McCordsville Elementary, Mt. Comfort Elementary, Fortville Elementary School and Mt. Vernon Middle School are a 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.
