Derby Public Schools is proud to share that eight elementary schools and Derby High School have been named 2024-2025 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in over 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.

Cooper, Derby Hills, El Paso, Oaklawn, Park Hill, Swaney, Tanglewood and Wineteer Elementary are among only a few hundred schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW Launch. To be eligible for the designation, each school had to have at least 75 percent of the student body participating in at least one PLTW Launch module and had to offer at least one PLTW Launch module in each grade (K-5) during the 2023-2024 school year. PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.

Derby High School is one of just a few hundred high schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW - Computer Science, Biomedical Science and Engineering. To be eligible for the designation, DHS had to meet the following criteria in the 2023-2024 school year:

• Had 25 percent of students or more participate in PLTW High School courses, or of those who participated during the 2022-2023 school year, at least 33 percent took two or more PLTW courses during their tenure at the school;
• Offer and had students enrolled in at least three PLTW High School courses;
• Had strategies and procedures in place to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate in PLTW programs.

Learn more about PLTW's Recognition Program.