Gilbert Public Schools is expanding and aligning STEM learning across its campuses, aiming to create clearer academic pathways for students from kindergarten through high school, officials said.
STEM programs have long been part of the district’s offerings, but leaders say they plan to add more academic options, including new STEM 2 courses at several junior high schools in the 2026–27 school year.
The goal, they say, is not only to increase opportunities but also to improve continuity between grade levels.
“We’re looking carefully at how each level prepares students for what comes next,” said Renita Miller, the district’s program and workforce development coordinator. “STEM is not one isolated class. It’s a mindset built over time, so we’re focused on teaching students how to problem-solve, document their thinking, test ideas, and persist.”
STEM begins in elementary
Students are first introduced to STEM concepts in elementary school.
At Quartz Hill Elementary, students study weather patterns using green screen technology in the school’s Innovation Lab, where they produce weather reports that blend science standards with digital production skills.
The lab also features robotics, coding, and collaborative projects, many of which are showcased during the school’s annual Innovation Night.
Teachers and staff at Quartz Hill collaborate with South Valley Junior High and Campo Verde High to ensure learning builds from one level to the next and prepares students for secondary STEM coursework.
Continuing the STEM mindset in secondary grades
Junior high students participate in Project Lead The Way Gateway units, including design and modeling and automation and robotics. These courses introduce structured design processes and encourage students to approach challenges systematically.
Some junior high campuses tailor STEM units to their feeder high schools.
South Valley Junior High, for example, offers the PLTW medical detectives unit to prepare students for the biomedical sciences career and technical education program at Campo Verde High.
Students in the high school biomed program progress from foundational biology to advanced research projects, culminating in a fourth-year capstone completed with support from a mentor in the medical or research field.
“I feel that having a STEM course in junior high allows students to get a head start and a look at careers they might be interested in,” said Clarissa Monreal, a biomed teacher at Campo Verde High. “Instead of being discouraged from entering a program known to be rigorous, they get a sneak peek of how capable they are and continue in programs like biomed or engineering.”
Desert Ridge Junior High offers the PLTW computer science for innovators and makers unit, which aligns with the ngineering CTE program at Desert Ridge High.
The junior high also provides students access to a multimedia center with tools for 3D modeling, animation, video production, virtual reality, and game design.
These programs contribute to the School of Innovation, hosted jointly by the junior high and high school, where students can enter engineering and computer science pathways.
A connected academic experience
District leaders describe STEM as part of a broader effort to prepare students for an evolving workforce while maintaining strong academic foundations.
By expanding junior high coursework and strengthening campus-to-campus collaboration, they aim to help students explore interests earlier and pursue them with increasing depth.
“We’re focused on building forward,” said Eric Cruz, principal at Desert Ridge Junior High. “We work a lot with our feeder schools to give students the tools and confidence to take the next step.”
District officials say the result for families is a clearer view of how STEM opportunities connect across campuses, from early exploration to specialized high school programs.
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