Several Project Lead the Way programs in Lawrence County have achieved National Certifications.

Rock Hill and Dawson-Bryant both have received National Certification for their high school programs as well as National Recognition for their middle school programs.

Ironton, South Point and Chesapeake have received National Recognition for their middle school programs with National Certification for the high schools to follow.

PLTW programs begin for students in the eighth grade and continue through their senior year.

The primary purposes of the certification program are to recognize schools that have successfully demonstrated a commitment to the quality national standards of the Pathway to Engineering program and to provide an opportunity for students to apply for college credit at PLTW affiliate college and university partners including Duke University, West Virginia University, Perdue and the University of Kentucky that offer students credit for completing certain PLTW courses in high school.

A team composed of administrators, teachers, staff, students, and members of the community completed a self-assessment of the schools implementation of the Pathway to Engineering program that culminated in a sit visit by a national PLTW certification specialist.

The certification team met with teachers, administration, counselors, students, community representatives and reviewed student work.

“These high schools and middle schools have demonstrated their commitment to the quality standards of PLTW’s Pathway to Engineering program and the real winners are the students,” said John Lock, president and CEO of PLTW.

“Students are benefiting from an innovative curriculum that encourages creativity and critical thinking and on top of that, they can earn college credit for some of these courses.

“We congratulate the entire community and look forward to many more years of working together to prepare students to become the most innovative and productive in the world.”