Project Lead the Way Recognizes Charter School

BFCCPS has recently been recognized as a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School, one of 212 middle schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Gateway. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S.

“When BFCCPS expanded our STEM program was a new feature of our school. Project Lead the Way has been a wonderful addition to our curriculum that has helped define the space and program, inspiring students to work creatively to solve complex challenges, and embrace the best aspects of a classical approach to education,” said Joe Perna, BFCCPS Head of School.

The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, BFCCPS had to meet a variety of criteria such as a certain percentage of the student body participating in PLTW Gateway, participate in two or more units during their time at school, offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit at each grade level, and have strategies in place to ensure equitable access to students.

• Have more than 50 percent of the student body participating during the 2021-22 school year;
• Have 25 percent of students advancing to high school participate in two or more units during their time at the school;
• Offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit at each grade level;
• Have strategies in place that support reasonably proportional representation with regard to race, ethnicity, poverty, and/or gender.

Research shows that the middle grades play a pivotal role in influencing high school, college, and career success. During this transitional time, it’s crucial to provide students with access to relevant, engaging, and real-world learning experiences that illuminate the range of career paths and possibilities available to them. Whether designing an automated robotics system or solving a mysterious disease outbreak, PLTW Gateway students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.

“We are proud to recognize the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. "We congratulate them on this achievement and celebrate their important work empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but also more generally in life and career."

Nine students in the Grade Eight program will be representing BFCCPS in a Project Lead the Way Showcase on May 19th at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Three teams all created their own Apps on MIT App Inventor to show to industry experts. Students are now in the process of creating a tri fold board to explain their design process. This is a huge event with over 1,000 students.

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School is part of a community of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a passion for providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s recognition program, visit pltw.org.

About PLTW

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.