PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

Effective 2008-09, Seneca Valley High School offers Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a four year engineering program which introduces students to the discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college. The mission of this program – open to all freshmen – is to address the shortage of engineers as well as increase the representation of women and minorities in the field. The program is housed under the Academy of Science within Seneca Valley’s Signature Career Academies Program.

PLTW freshmen entering Seneca Valley take Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) in the 9th Grade. This course covers the technology education credit required by the Maryland Department of Education. Freshmen and sophomore courses are taught at Seneca Valley; junior and senior courses are taken at the Thomas Edison High School of Technology, the county’s center for advanced career technical education at the secondary level. Transportation is provided.  Engineering students take their non-engineering courses each day at Seneca Valley.

Read more about the courses in the program.

This exciting program has been a tremendous success at Wheaton High School. In 2006-07 their PLTW program was awarded 1.6 million dollars in college scholarships.

For more information, contact the Guidance Office, the SVHS coordinator, Darren Black, or MCPS Career & Technology Education coordinator, William Ball.