Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) has announced the launch of its at-home STEM Academy this fall, offering a virtual afterschool program for selected students in grades four through eight.
According to NNPS, applications for the at-home STEM Academy opened on September 29 in ParentVue. Families were notified on October 6 if their students were accepted or placed on the waitlist. Over the next three years, the program will serve a total of 900 students in grades 4-8, with 300 students participating each year. The program is free and provides all necessary high-quality tools and materials, funded by the Department of Defense Education Activity grant Mission STEM: Pioneering Pathways in Robotics and Space Exploration.
Instruction is led by STEM education specialists from the Virginia Space Flight Academy and takes place virtually on students’ school-issued Chromebooks from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on assigned days. Students will complete three separate academies of five weekly sessions each during the fall, winter, and spring, covering Aerospace, Robotics & Coding, and Astronomy & Astrophysics. The virtual academies are scheduled for October 27-December 4, January 12-February 12, and March 2-April 2, providing hands-on learning experiences and exposure to advanced STEM topics.
“We want both students and families to take advantage of the resources this generous grant has provided to our school division for additional STEM education,” said Tami Byron, NNPS STEM instructional supervisor. Byron also said that “students will get a unique opportunity to hear from professionals in these fields as they explore working on projects during after-school time.”
Newport News Public Schools serves about 26,000 students across 40 schools, including early childhood centers, elementary, middle, high, and combination schools. More than 1,500 students speak a language other than English. The district employs roughly 3,900 teachers, administrators, and support staff with a focus on preparing all students to graduate college-, career-, and citizen-ready. NNPS provides early learning programs, advanced science labs, and educational technology to support student and teacher success. The seven-member elected School Board governs the district with Dr. Michele Mitchell serving as superintendent. Board meetings are public and include structured opportunities for citizen input.
