The STEAD School is a Science, Technology, Environmental, Agricultural and systems Design charter high school focused on solving global food, health, energy, and environmental issues.
STEAD engages students in real life, hands-on learning, utilizing a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Agricultural Pathways curriculum in plant, animal, food, and environmental sciences. STEAD uses a Project Based Learning (PBL) approach integrating CTE curriculum and aligning guiding questions into a PBL framework where students explore these questions and utilize their findings as the foundation for projects. In addition to the scientific pathways of study, lessons in math, art, music, foreign language, English language arts, and history align with projects and engage students in deeply focused studies, Socratic seminar and community presentations.
THE STEAD APPROACH
Guides (STEAD teachers) plan PBL experiences as a team and then guide student voice and choice in interdisciplinary collaboration, skill building, and content-knowledge growth. Core class content in English Language Arts, Science and Social Studies is integrated into answering an essential question, which students explore through a project that is presented during Exhibition Night at the end of each quarter.
PROJECT BASED LEARNING (PBL)
Head, hearts, and hands are engaged in active project-based learning as students develop their unique passions to become lifelong learners, thinkers, creators, and civic leaders. According to PBLworks.org, “Project Based Learning unleashes a contagious, creative energy among students and teachers.” All STEAD students graduate with a robust set of work and community service experiences compiled in a professional portfolio.
COGNIA STEM CERTIFICATION
STEAD has achieved Cognia STEM Certification, an international recognition that identifies schools demonstrating a solid and effective STEM focus. At STEAD, we view STEM as a process of ideas and actions. Our PBL model provides the avenue for our students to question and explore to enhance their learning, all with the backdrop of real-world action and deep connection. Because of our approach to education, our students will be the change-makers of tomorrow, and the largest accreditation agency in the world thinks so too.
STANDARDS BASED GRADING
STEAD uses Standards Based Grading (SBG) focusing on the effectiveness of instruction and mastery of skills in a subject. Opposed to traditional letter grades, SBG gives students, guides, and parents a clearer picture of the exact skills in a subject area that a student needs to improve upon. At the end of the year, SBG scores are converted into traditional letter grades
AGRICULTURE CTE PATHWAYS
Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs allow students to gain a head-start on their future by taking specialized classes and obtaining work experience in fields where jobs are in demand. STEAD’s CTE pathways are specifically cultivating leaders to solve the growing challenges the world is currently facing in the agriculture industry. Pathways: Animal Science, Plant Science, Food Science, Environmental Resources
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM
STEAD offers a wide variety of Advanced Placement (AP) classes open to all students. STEAD is also one of the few schools in Colorado (and only in 27J) that offers the AP Capstone Program. This program offering is an alternative to our agriculture pathways, but both can be taken concurrently. Students have the opportunity to graduate with an original, thesis-length research paper to submit to colleges.
WORK BASED LEARNING PROGRAM
At STEAD, our goal is to prepare our students for a regenerative future through relevant, hands-on study and experiences that prepares them for the real work needed in the world. In fidelity to this promise, every student completes an internship with an industry or non-profit community partner, or an on-campus learning entrepreneurship and leadership opportunity
The Internship Experience
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
STEAD students are encouraged to pursue college credit at local colleges to further their studies in conjunction with with the STEAD curriculum. STEAD works with local community colleges to provide concurrent enrollment opportunities for students.
ACCELERATOR WEEK EXPERIENCES
Accelerator Weeks are guide- developed EXPERIENCES created to IMMERSE students in an area of interest, allowing them a direct opportunity to APPLY their education. Every quarter we step away from the regular daily schedule to ENGAGE in these topic-specific experiences.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
STEAD’s graduation requirements meet or exceed 27J and HEAR (Higher Education Admission Recommendations) requirements. In addition, STEAD graduates complete a CTE pathway or AP Capstone Diploma, develop a post-secondary education plan and have the opportunity to participate in an internship and earn postsecondary credit through a range of college credit options.
