STEM Pathway

ap award

Hill's STEM Pathway immerses students in science, mathematics, engineering and technology, while emphasizing critical thinking and ingenuity. Beginning freshman year, students will engage in 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD), introductory computer programming, and robotics. The STEM Pathway emphasizes real-world collaborative problem-solving skills through project-based learning with Project Lead the Way courses. This forms the foundation for selecting higher-level coursework.

The STEM Pathway may be supplemented with a 2-year sequence in fine arts and/or music appreciation and balanced with a range of Humanities Pathway electives.

St. Joseph Hill Academy High School received national recognition for our commitment to empowering students with our STEM Pathway Program. Hill High School has been named a Project Lead the Way High School Distinguished School for 2022-2023. We are one of 262 high schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW’s computer science, engineering, and biomedical pathways. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in more than 12,200 schools across the U.S.

The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Hill High School had to meet the following criteria in the 2021-22 school year:

Had 25 percent of students or more participate in PLTW courses, or of those who participated in PLTW, at least 33 percent took two or more PLTW courses;
Offer and had students enrolled in at least three PLTW courses;
Have strategies in place that support reasonably proportional representation with regard to race, ethnicity, poverty, and/or gender.

St. Joseph Hill Academy High School Earns College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award - January 17, 2024

Recognized for Improving Gender Representation in AP Computer Science Principles

Hill has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses.

More than 1,100 institutions achieved either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science exam takers meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 2022-23 school year. In 2023, St. Joseph Hill Academy High School was one of 834 recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles (CSP).

STEM PATHWAY

Freshman Year

Robotics

Sophomore Year

College Digital Electronics* or AP Computer Science Principles*

Junior Year

College Introduction to Engineering Design* or College Environmental Sustainability*

*Available for college credit

Senior Year

College Cybersecurity* or AP Computer Science Principles*

*Available for college credit

Student Life:

Girls Who Code SJHA Chapter
Robotics Club

Girls Who Code: Closing the Gender Gap

By: Ewa Pekala for The Summit (student newspaper) May 2022 Issue

"Society has been trying to change the gender gap in technology as well as introduce women to the field of technology. This is the exact purpose of Girls Who Code. Members of the club enjoy many different activities. This includes simple online coding tutorials, building community through interactive activities, and learning about inspiring role models in the technology industry.The ultimate goal is for the girls to enter into hack-a-thons and/or the Congressional App Challenge. This competition allows middle and high school students from different districts to compete in an annual application contest for software development. These goals don't sound like anything that Hilltoppers can't accomplish."