STEM Program
Enrichment
$6 million
in college scholarships were offered to 29 STEM Program students across 84 scholarships in 2025
97%
of Good Counsel STEM students in the Distinguished or Accomplished range on the PLTW summative test
87%
of our STEM students met the qualifications for college credit
This nationally recognized program introduces up to 60 students each year to engineering with its hands-on, project-based curriculum called Project Lead the Way. Good Counsel has been recognized as a Distinguished Project Lead the Way School for seven years in a row — a distinction given to only 2% of qualified schools nationally.
Program Breakdown
- Year One — Introduction to Engineering Design: This curriculum is exactly what it says, an introduction — to concepts, processes, software platforms, and teamwork. It provides the perfect foundation to build upon.
- Year Two — Principles of Engineering: You’ll learn about the principles of physics and their importance to engineering and robotics.
- Year Three — Electives: Once you have your foundation covered, you get to pursue areas that interest you most, ranging from solving problems in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, architecture to designing and constructing residential and commercial buildings.
- Year Four — Engineering Design and Development: You will complete a year-long capstone project involving prototyping, patent searches, and a presentation to a panel of engineers.
PLTW is designed to expose students of varying abilities to STEM subjects. Therefore, acceptance to the STEM Program is independent from honors math and science course placements.
What skills have you gained or strengthened through being in the STEM Program?
The most valuable skill my time in the STEM Program has strengthened is my way of thinking. STEM has taught me to approach the world like a problem solver—to question, to explore with curiosity, to figure out how and why things work, to learn from what I find, and to always look for ways to improve. This mindset has shaped how I approach almost every task in my life, both inside and outside the classroom.
I use my STEM mind in countless ways: as an active listener making real connections with others, as a cook testing new recipes, as a potter planning out creative designs, and as a reader staying deeply engaged in new worlds. It guides me when I tackle tough math problems, push myself on the track, or take on hands-on projects in the STEM room, from designing a cookie conveyor belt to calculating the load of a bridge. No matter the situation, my STEM way of thinking helps me organize, create, persist, and ultimately grow. – Maya Johnson '26
