Fort Walton Beach High School has been named a 2023-24 Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for its commitment to empowering students through its STEM curriculum and career readiness programs, the Okaloosa County School District announced Thursday.

The recognition honors the school’s dedication to providing students with access to transformative learning experiences through PLTW Biomedical Science and Engineering courses.

Megan Mueller, a biomedical science teacher at Fort Walton Beach High School, said, “Being named a PLTW Distinguished High School is a true honor. We pride ourselves on preparing students for a future in STEM fields related to biomedical sciences and engineering.”

To be eligible for the designation, Fort Walton Beach High School met multiple criteria in the 2022-23 school year, including the number of PLTW courses offered, the percentage of students enrolled in these courses, the percentage of students taking multiple PLTW courses, and efforts to ensure equal access to PLTW courses for all students.

“I am thrilled to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Fort Walton Beach High School for their exceptional accomplishment in preparing students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in STEM subjects,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “Their unwavering commitment to preparing students for their future careers and lives beyond the classroom is commendable and deserves recognition.”

Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO, emphasized the school’s commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs.

PLTW high school programs focus on building students’ STEM skills, as well as their collaboration, teamwork, and communication abilities, to prepare them for future careers and life beyond the classroom.

For more information about PLTW’s Distinguished Program Recognition, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition.