STEM-Focused Education

The School of Science and Technology was founded with the purpose of better preparing students to excel in college through a STEM-focused education. Students who take rigorous math and science courses are more likely to attend college, and people with strong math and science backgrounds are highly employable.

Our campus teaches the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and codified in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19 (19 TAC).

Setting the Foundation for Reading

Students in Kindergarten will begin developing their reading and writing skills. This will help build their foundation for reading fluency and comprehension skills for the years to come. We believe that a strong foundation in reading will help our students be well-rounded and aid them in analyzing and problem-solving.

Early Emphasis on Math and Science Education

Students attending the School of Science and Technology begin their compartmentalized math and science instruction in the third grade, enabling them to receive a strong math and science foundation from highly qualified teachers at an early age.

Project-Based Learning

Our students develop an understanding and appreciation of our STEM focused education by participating in hands-on and project-based learning. Students learning through a project-based curriculum develop the ability to transfer their learning to new situations. These students demonstrate an increased ability to define problems and support their reasoning and are better able to tackle conceptual problems than those taught with a more traditional curriculum.

SST Tracks

Our campuses offer several different tracks, all targeted towards a college and career readiness curriculum that benefits students regardless of which track they are on.
Honors for All Track

Honors for All Track

  • What are the distinctions of the track?
    – Rigorous ELAR curriculum aligned to Pre AP/AP coursework.
    – Advanced math and science coursework in 6th and 7th grades.
    – High school courses for math and science in 8th grade.
  • What are the benefits of the track?
    – Begin high school with some credits already earned.
    – More flexibility in the high school schedule for advanced classes
    – Additional opportunities to earn college credit while in high school
  • What grade levels do they start?
    6th grade.
Accelerated Track

Accelerated Track

  • What are the distinctions of the track?
    – Complete middle school in two years.
    – Take all high school courses in 8th grade.
    – Start 9th grade with enough credits to be considered a 10th grader.
  • What are the benefits of the track?
    – Challenging Coursework: Keeps our highest students engaged and intellectually stimulated.
    – Earn College Credit: Potential to save time and money on future college tuition.
    – Competitive Advantage: Strengthens college applications and scholarship opportunities.
    – Early Graduation: Gives students the option to graduate a year earlier than their peers or continue with SST for one more year to continue taking AP courses.
  • What are the qualifications for the track?
    – Student performance.
    – Teacher or administrator recommendation.
    – Completion of required course materials all factor into qualifying for the accelerated program.
  • What grade levels do they start?
    6th grade.
  • Any other key information to highlight what these tracks offer our students?
    Participate in the Texas First Program, which allows qualifying students the opportunity to earn up to a two-semester scholarship to a Texas public college, university, or technical college.

Additional Programs

GT Program is available for students in grades K - 12th offers enriched and accelerated learning opportunities for the gifted learner in the core areas of English Language Arts-Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Through the collaboration of students, educators, parents, and community members, we ensure challenging opportunities for maximum growth and development for lifelong success. SST Public Schools is committed to implementing a program that meets the unique social, emotional, and intellectual needs of gifted and talented students.

The goal of the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program is to enable English Language Learners (ELLs) to become competent in listening, reading, speaking and writing. Through the use of communicative and integrative methods of second language teaching the program focuses on the mastery of English language skills. All content (English Language Arts-Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) area teachers adhere to the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) in order to provide the necessary support to ELLs to acquire the specific content. There are two types of instructional design options in the program; content-based and pull out.

In the content-based option, an ESL certified full-time teacher provides supplementary instruction for the 4 content area classes in a structured, non-threatening environment.
In the pull-out option, ELLs spend part of the day in their mainstream classroom and are pulled out for a portion of each day to receive specialized instruction by a certified ESL teacher in a small group setting.

SST provides special education services for incoming students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP).  SST will provide comparable services upon the student’s enrollment from their previous school to SST.  In addition, SST will also identify students that may need special education services by providing a Full Individual Evaluation (FIE).  SST follows all special education rules and regulations.  

SST provides students with disabilities appropriate educational services designed to meet the individual needs of such students to the same extent as the needs of students without disabilities. An appropriate education for a student with a disability under the Section 504 regulations could consist of education in regular classrooms, education in regular classes with supplementary services, and/or related services. 

  • Definition: Section 504 is a civil rights law that protects eligible individuals from discrimination based on their disabilities.
  • Evaluation: Once a referral has been made by school staff or the parent(s)/guardians, a 504 evaluation which includes the review of data drawn from a variety of sources (health records, academic records, parent/teacher input etc.) is conducted by the 504 committee.
  • Eligibility: To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to: have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (breathing, walking, concentrating, reading etc.)

Potential Qualifying Disabilities may include but are not limited to:

  • ADD/ADHD
  • OCD, ODD
  • HIV
  • Diabetes
  • Dyslexia
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Epilepsy 

Services:

  • Accommodations: Extended time, reading aloud etc.
  • Service plans: Individual accommodation plan (IAP), emergency action/health plan, behavior intervention plan etc.
  •  Related services: Counseling, assistive technology etc. 

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