Beginning the 2025-2026 school year, Highland Prep Academies will be implementing the PLTW-RECF Industry Certification as part of our broader college and career readiness efforts. Highland Prep is proud to announce the implementation of a groundbreaking STEM program in partnership with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF). This innovative initiative will provide students with the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications in pre-engineering and robotics, setting them up for success in an increasingly competitive STEM landscape. 

This certification, a collaboration between PLTW and REC Foundation, aligns with our mission to equip students with relevant, industry-recognized credentials. See below key benefits:

• Earns a nationally recognized industry certification that strengthens college and job applications 
• Endorsed by leading employers and post-secondary institutions
• Integrates seamlessly with existing PLTW curriculum pathways
• Validates real-world skills in engineering that directly align with in-demand career fields
• Gain a competitive edge for STEM scholarships, internships, and selective university programs
• Makes students stand out in the workforce pipeline by demonstrating readiness for entry-level roles in technology and engineering sectors

Through this partnership, students will have access to a rigorous and engaging STEM curriculum that prepares them for careers in engineering, robotics, and other STEM fields. The program will focus on developing critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills, ensuring that students are well-equipped to tackle complex challenges in these fields. Upon completion of the program, students will have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications, demonstrating their expertise and enhancing their college and career prospects.

To earn the Pre-Engineering Industry Certification, students must take 2 out of the following 8 exams of their choice, in addition to the Fundamentals of Engineering exam: 

• Aerospace Pre-Engineering
• Chemical Pre-Engineering
• Civil Pre-Engineering
• Computer Science/Programming
• Electrical Pre-Engineering
• Engineering Technology
• Manufacturing Technology
• Mechanical Pre-Engineering 
  

Madison Highland Prep is committed to providing its students with the best possible education, and this partnership with PLTW and the RECF is a significant step towards achieving that goal. By offering students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications in STEM fields, Highland Prep is setting its students up for success and preparing them to make a meaningful impact in their chosen careers. 

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The PLTW curriculum is founded in the fundamental problem-solving and critical-thinking skills taught in traditional career and technical education along with national academic and technical learning standards and STEM principles, creating what U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan calls one of the “great models of the new CTE succeeding all across the country.” PLTW was recently cited by the Harvard Graduate School of Education as a “model for 21st century career and technical education.”

PLTW Evidence: click here

Course Overviews: Our school offers 10 Dual College Enrollment classes in engineering and computer science

• Biomedical Engineering: click here
• Computer Science: click here
• Engineering: click here

For more information about PLTW click here..