Project Lead the Way Engineering @ ACHS

In the 2015-16 school year, Archbishop Carroll introduced a formal Engineering Pathway option to students who wish to study Engineering while in high school. This program gives students the opportunity to explore real-life questions and seek answers. As our world becomes more technologically complex, the careers of the future will continue to demand higher levels of critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. Engineering students at Carroll will develop and use these skills every day in the classroom, preparing them to become highly competitive in college and beyond. Our first Engineering Pathway cohort graduated in May 2019.

Our Engineering Pathway is provided through a partnership with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a national leader in STEM Education. Students may join the program as freshmen or sophomores, participating in a total of 3 or 4 year-long courses. These courses involve applied math and science; are hands-on and highly engaging. An application, prerequisites, and an interview process must be completed in order to be considered for admission into the ACHS Engineering Program.

Archbishop Carroll is home to the ACHS STEM Nation, a National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Jr. Chapter. March 22-26, 2022, the ACHS STEM Nation officers traveled with Mrs. Ming to Anaheim, CA for the 48th Annual NSBE Convention. Students participated in the career fair, resume prep., coding, bridge-building activities and so much more in addition to meeting college engineering students, and engineering corporations, meeting new friends, and discussing internships with college recruiters. The trip was productive, fun, and informative and the venue was beautiful. This was a great trip! We cannot wait until March 2023 to attend the 49th Annual NSBE Convention.

PLTW Engineering Pathway Courses @ ACHS:

Introduction to Engineering (IED): Students dig deep into the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects. They work individually and in teams to design solutions to a variety of problems using 3D modeling software, and use an engineering notebook to document their work.

Principles of Engineering (POE): Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem-solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation.

Digital Electronics (DE): DE focuses on the study of electronic circuits, circuit theory, and circuit designs that are used to process and control digital signals. Digital electronics is the foundation of all modern electronic devices, such as cellular phones, MP3 players, laptop computers, digital cameras, and high-definition televisions. The major focus of the DE course is to expose students to the design process of combinational and sequential logic design, teamwork, communication methods, engineering standards, and technical documentation.

Engineering Design and Development (EDD): EDD is a course that is focused on high school seniors' capstone course that involves solving a real-world problem using the Engineering Design Process including creating a prototype, testing it, refining it, and presenting it before a panel of Professional Engineers formally.

AP Computer Science Principles (CSP): CSP helps students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet using Python® as a primary tool. Projects and problems include app development, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation.

CUA Engineering Program Dual Enrollment Opportunity:

Catholic University of America's General Engineering Course - ENGR 106: Computer Aided Engineering Tools course can be taken in the Fall of the school year following the completion of Digital Electronics in partnership with CUA for 4 selected students. We are excited to offer this opportunity to our students at no additional cost to them. At the successful completion of the ENGR 106 course, the students will receive 3 college credits in Engineering that are transferable to other college or university Engineering programs.