2015 AAAS Annual Meeting (12-16 February 2015)

February 12 - 16, 2015

Inclusive STEM High Schools: Innovative Pathways and Partnerships for Success

Inclusive STEM-focused high schools (ISHS) aim to increase participation in STEM college majors and careers by underrepresented students, including first-generation college-goers, students from low socioeconomic families, African Americans, Hispanics, and women. Through partnerships with businesses, industry, institutions of higher education, and local communities, these schools expand student STEM learning opportunities beyond the school walls to incorporate real-world applications and experiences. This symposium will present a state-of-the-art look at ISHS, using data from two National Science Foundation-funded companion studies. The first presentation provides background about the proliferation of ISHS across the United States, describes the analysis of critical components across eight successful ISHS, and provides a description of common features characterizing these schools. The second presentation describes different partnerships between ISHS and local, state, and national organizations that enhance the schools’ impact on students. The third presentation describes a longitudinal study comparing outcomes of students attending ISHS with those of students in comparison schools. Early results suggest that ISHS produce students better prepared in STEM; some of the contributing factors are described. This session presents an overview of an innovative new kind of high school that can contribute substantially to understanding successful STEM education for underrepresented students.