Vancouver Public Schools is set to open a new STEM magnet school in September 2012. The district produced two videos: a recruiting a video to draw interest, and another showing the tremendous interest by parents and students in attending the new school. Below is an excerpt on Vancouver's new schools. Click here to watch the videos:

Across the country people are talking about STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. Specifically, they are talking about the lack of qualified applicants to fill STEM-related jobs in this country. "We want to make sure STEM education doesn't fall behind, because it's the engine of our research enterprises," said Dr. Subra Suresh, the director of the National Science Foundation.

Vancouver Public Schools is responding with plans for a new school of choice in STEM education. Last winter planning teams, made up of representatives from Vancouver Public Schools, Clark College and Washington State University Vancouver, began researching other STEM schools in the country, and laying the groundwork for our own STEM school.

The new school, slated to start in September 2012, will prepare students in grades 6-12 for college and careers in STEM-related fields. Through partnerships with higher education and local high-tech companies, the new school is envisioned as an exciting, real world environment for all of its students and teachers.