Ashland City Elementary School is one of 22 schools in Tennessee designated a STEM Academy in 2020.
To recognize this achievement, the Cheatham County School Board, at its July 9 meeting, will consider renaming the school to Ashland City Elementary STEM Academy, according to Tim Adkins, Cheatham County Schools Communication Director.
The STEM designation was announced on May 4. The school had been working on receiving this designation for about two years, Adkins said.
In addition to the prestige of the designation, ACES will receive $10,000 to be used toward STEM education.
The Tennessee Department of Education and the STEM Leadership Council work to identify and recognize schools in their commitment to teaching STEM and/or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and integrating strategies that ultimately prepare students for post-secondary college and career success in the 21st century.
Each school awarded the designation completed a rigorous application process, including a self-evaluation, participation in interviews, and host site visits with the Tennessee STEM Designation review team.
Schools seeking the designation needed to focus on these areas: infrastructure, curriculum and instruction, professional development, achievement, and community and post-secondary partnerships.
As a part of the process, schools were required to submit a plan of action for implementing and sustaining STEM and/or STEAM education for the next five years. From this process, a total of 22 schools received the Tennessee STEM School Designation this year.
To date, 48 schools in Tennessee have earned this designation.
