A new conducted concept was introduced giving a chance for incoming freshman to conform to a college preparation program, this year was the trial.

Science teachers and freshman student advocates all take part in this new program. It allows science, mathematics, and technology partakers to take this program informing the science and math classes needed and could be attempted for those engineering-type careers.

“The STEM Program is progressing very well… with 109 students participating this year, it was greater than [initially] thought,” assistant principal Joe Greene said this shows its success through only a first-year basis; therefore, its process and core ideas may consist of positive concepts for the incoming students.

Along with its implementation, more concepts arise from assistant principal Joe Greene himself. “With its success, there may be an engineering class introduction going along with this program [and its standards],” he says. This could give a stronger point of view of an engineering career, and should definitely be pushed by the administration upon the students.

On the contrary, the program may be creating more of challenge on the students and could in fact make it difficult for the kids to succeed in their own eyes. The standards are set that students participating must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout high school, consisting of four years of honors and AP science classes; “It’s a very stressful program for them [the students]… it could be a cause of the kids dropping out of the program… and no one will know its significance for another four years,” says participating STEM science teacher, Stephanie Hawkins. The fear of student emotions concur with this statement.

In addition, “If a student can not maintain the program’s standards…. it is by no means a failure,” says biology teacher Jerry Irion. This throws a strongpoint due to student standards being raised every year making competition for grades consistently increasing. When a student can not maintain the competitive edge, it may feel demeaning to them.

Overall, it is up to this student’s perception of their future goals and their future attempts. If they feel motivated it could be an adventurous pursuit, if obligated, they might be crushed. The school’s influence is definitely a great impact; however, the conclusion is unknown until the introduced freshman graduate and apply for college: in four long, hopeful years.