NCCA STEM Institute Joins NCSSS as Institutional Member

The National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) is pleased to recognize the Newton College and Career Academy STEM Institute as its newest institutional member. Established in 1988 by 15 high schools across nine states, NCSSS is one of the oldest education organizations in the nation explicitly focused on STEM education.

Founding schools like North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA), Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy remain active and continue to shape the future of STEM education. Congress recognized the expertise of NCSSS member schools in 2015 when the association was asked to provide the definition of STEM education, which was then applied in the “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA).

Prospective NCSSS member schools are required to submit curricular materials for review that demonstrate an institution’s commitment to STEM through a fully integrated approach across disciplines and that includes a research component for its students. Applicants also describe what external experiences they offer like internships and competitions.

Todd Mann, the Executive Director of NCSSS, says Institutional members include state residential high schools, comprehensive high schools, advanced CTE programs, and specialized academies that operate as a “school-within-a-school” model. Mann says, “It is the deeply held belief by member schools that STEM education is more comprehensive than siloed AP or IB courses that makes NCSSS unique.”

The NCCA STEM Institute is dedicated to cultivating curiosity, proactivity, and self-directedness through authentic, interdisciplinary project-based learning experiences in both Biotechnology and Engineering pathways. Anchored in real-world problems and bolstered by strong industry relationships, our Associates engage in our BRIGHT process-thinking model, honing their ability to plan, collaborate, synthesize knowledge, and communicate effectively. With a curriculum emphasizing advanced academics, CTAE pathway completion, capstone projects, and flexible learning time, STEM Associates graduate as resilient, innovative, and effective leaders prepared for success in both post-secondary education and the workforce.

School leaders and educators at NCSSS member schools learn from one another through in-person and online events while their students are invited to participate in virtual college fairs with the nation’s top STEM college programs and share their original research each summer at a Student Research Conference.

NCSSS also includes higher education institutions and STEM-related non-profits among its affiliates while corporate members include educational vendors and industry leaders who need a strong STEM pipeline to support their future workforce. As part of its mission to positively impact student achievement in authentic STEM educational environments, the NCSSS board invites visionary district leaders to join through its district membership category to enhance STEM across all grade levels and develop future NCSSS Institutional member schools for their communities.