Highland Prep was recently presented with an honorary banner for being the first network of schools in the world to earn the Cognia STEM Systems Certification. The STEM certification was conferred by the Cognia Global Commission.

To issue the certification, Highland Prep and Highland Prep Academies participated in a thorough STEM system review. An Arizona team of Regional Accreditation Evaluators, led by Dr. Angela Chomokos and supported by Dr. Mike Jeffers, held the STEM certification review. Highland Prep Academies provided a vast amount of evidence, ranging from videos to writeups.

In conducting the review, the noteworthy practice that was found by the team: Highland Prep Academies has a rigorous academic program rooted in STEM college-preparatory practices for all students.

The system embraces its Highland Prep Cross-Cutting Competencies Framework of collaborative problem-solving skills, technology and information literacy, thinking and metacognitive skills, and studying and learning skills throughout all curricular areas that led to 100% of its graduating seniors accepted into a four-year college or university for the past six years.

“Highland Prep’s ongoing commitment to providing high school students with a high-quality STEM education is impressive, to say the least,” school officials wrote in a news release. “Students at Highland Prep succeed as a result of their resilient and sustainable STEM-integrated teaching approach and this honorable accomplishment can attest to that.”

Highland Prep is a STEM-focused college-preparatory high school located at 15600 W. Hearn Road.

For information, contact the school office at 623-300-8385.