Are there any boarding schools that have STEM programs for girls?
The question confuses me. Isn’t the answer “all but the all-boys schools”?
We looked into this last year- Our LPSTEM school was light years beyond all the BS’s we saw- helps when you have major companies funding your labs and science programs. The lab and tech equipment were jaw dropping. The problem my d had with the local STEM was how rigid it was. It was set up like college- She would have had to chose a science major (several engineering concentrations, robotics, computers, bioengineering or20+ others), take 3 sciences a year, plus a senior year internship… Ultimately she felt like it did not leave much time to explore other interests. But if your child is truly interested in STEM, I would first check out all local options. Most major cities have them now- sometimes they are harder to get into than BS. But it’s free!
Two girl BS that seem to be moving towards STEM-or STEAM are Emma Willard and Madeira. Most BS still focus on a classical education. The smaller BS just did not have the facilities or class numbers to have more advanced sciences or technology classes. The larger, more talked about BS can clearly teach STEM. They won’t focus on girls per say, but I think they could have clubs for girls in STEAM. SPS seems to have a great engineering program and growing robotics- Several students attended MIT’s RSI last year so they must be doing something right. Are you applying now? If you are- Definitely check out local STEM programs- while they don’t have the charm of BS- they do very, very well academically. I would also advise you to reach out to the departments that interests you and ask questions during your interviews. Each BS will be different.
I’m surprised @cameo43 hasn’t mentioned Westover, which has a Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, if I recall correctly. Chatham Hall is another all girls school that seems to emphasize STEM.
The WISE program at Westover is terrific. (thanks for the prompt, @CaliMex!). And Miss Halls School is finishing its new STEM building this year.
Yes - the WISE program is what I was looking for. Peddie has a signature program for Science. I did not see this for Emma Willard.
@twinsmama – Yes. I should have said that she would be interested in all STEM programs, including those for only for girls. I have a son at BS and have done a fair amount of research on the co-ed side. I also know that there are some summer programs that emphasize STEM for girls (for example, Choate), even at co-ed schools, but I didn’t know if there was something like this that existed during the year.
Kent has a pre-engineering program.
@MA2012 do you have any experience with their pre-e program? Kent is on my daughter’s list for that reason.
@HereGoesNothing1 - not first hand. DS has a friend at Kent (senior) and I know he was interested in this program, but I don’t know any more.
Question: SM of STEM is already core curriculum at any “good” school. Wouldn’t the added focus on TE undermine SM, or other core curriculum such as English or History? A student’s weekly schedule seems is a zero-sum game. How much would this switch of focus help in terms of 1. personal growth and 2. college admission? 3. Aren’t straight calculus and calculus based physics the most useful subjects for computer science and most of engineering study at college?
At Kent, many of the TE elements come into play in courses like Robotics that can be taken as an alternative to sports and they also have a special summer program (SEEK) that has a focus on pre-engineering. Here is a brief excerpt from their website:
Kent School offers multiple programs designed to give high school students, including those who would be beginning ninth grade, the chance to experience engineering education and entrepreneurship. The Summer Educational Experience at Kent (SEEK) is offered in partnership with professionals from several institutions including U. Penn’s Wharton Business School, Harvard University, and the Georgia Tech Integrated Product Lifecycle Engineering (IPLE) Laboratory.
Chatham Hall has a summer program for middle school girls who love STEM. Their robotics program and team are very strong, too. Emma Willard girls who are passionate about STEM can do internships and research projects at RPI.
Dana Hall School.