How is the STEM Academy different than a traditional high school experience?
The Wheeler STEAM Academy is designed to give students the opportunity to pursue advanced opportunities in the STEAM fields while still in high school.
The curriculum for our program allows students to identify the interconnections between the five broad areas of STEAM by taking required classes that all connect to STEAM such Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, Fine Arts, Engineering, Computer Science, Pre-Calculus, and/or AP Statistics. STEAM Academy students wanting to pursue more than 4 credits of a particular content area such as Mathematics, Science, or Fine Arts will be given the opportunity to double up in a single school year. By taking these mentioned STEAM courses, students will be able to begin narrowing down their areas of interest for college and career before leaving high school.
Our Wheeler STEAM Academy students must complete a very specific curriculum.
Please see Our Curriculum for more information.
Each student will complete 5 credits of their chosen STEAM “Major” (Science, Technology, Engineering/Architecture, Fine Arts, or Mathematics) and 3 credits of a chosen “Minor” (World Languages, CTAE, or Fine Arts). Students wanting to pursue more than 4 credits of a particular content area outside of their “Major” will be given the opportunity to double up in a single school year. By taking specific and targeted STEAM courses, students will be able to begin narrowing down their areas of interest for college and career before leaving high school. The curriculum for our program allows students to identify the interconnections between the five broad areas of STEAM.
Our Wheeler STEAM Academy students must complete a very specific curriculum.
Please see Our Curriculum for more information.
How does the admissions process work?
Wheeler STEAM Academy has a competitive admissions process. Students are required to apply to the program based on certain criteria.
Please see Admissions for application deadlines.
Our Events
Please see Events to see our past and future STEAM events.
Student Spotlight
Coming soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
A STEAM Academy is a program within a school that allows students who are interested to do in-depth study in the STEAM fields. The curriculum for a STEAM Academy integrates STEAM throughout the curriculum.
The Wheeler STEAM Academy is designed to give students the opportunity to pursue advanced opportunities in the STEAM fields while still in high school. By taking additional STEAM courses, students will be able to begin narrowing down their areas of interest for college and career before leaving high school. STEAM Academy students will be given the opportunity to double up in their science courses yearly, and the curriculum for the program will allow students to understand the interconnections between the five broad areas of STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Fine Arts, and Math.
Wheeler’s Magnet program (The Center for Advanced Studies in Science, Math, and Technology) is a specialized program within Wheeler High School. It is a county program while our STEAM Academy is a local school program. There are less required classes for the STEAM Academy, allowing more flexibility with pursuing different pathways and classes during all 4 years of high school.
9th grade
- A rising Magnet Freshman is required to take Magnet Chemistry, Magnet Biology, H. Geometry, H. Advanced Algebra, H. 9th Literature, and AP Computer Science Principles
- A rising STEAM Academy Freshman gets to choose between 5 Majors with specific requirements:
- A Science Major is required to take H. Biology, Visual Arts Comprehensive with STEAM Integration, and H. 9th Literature
- A Technology Major is required to take AP Computer Science Principles, Visual Arts Comprehensive with STEAM Integration, and H. 9th Literature
- An Engineering/Architecture Majors is required to take Foundations of Engineering, Introduction to Drafting, Visual Arts Comprehensive with STEAM Integration, and H. 9th Literature
- A Fine Arts Major is required to take a Fine Arts course and H. 9th Literature
- A Mathematics Major is required to take H. Geometry, Visual Arts Comprehensive with STEAM Integration, and H. 9th Literature
12th grade
- By the end of senior year, a Magnet student will have completed 10 Math/Science Core Classes, either 4 Magnet-recognized Technology classes (STEM Track) or 2 Magnet-recognized Technology classes & 2 Fine Arts classes (STEAM Track), and Advanced Internship and Research (both done during 12th grade)
- By the end of senior year, a STEAM Academy student will have completed 5 Major-related classes, 3 Minor-related classes (3 consecutive classes in either CTAE, Fine Arts, or World Languages), at least 1 Fine Arts class (can be included in Minor), and 2 yearlong Advanced Placement (AP) research courses – AP Seminar (11th grade) and AP Research (12th grade)
Grade Requirements
- Magnet students must maintain at least a B in all on-level or Honors Math, Science, and Technology classes or at least a C in all AP Math, Science, and Technology classes
- STEAM Academy students must maintain at least a B in all Major courses and an overall 3.125 weighted GPA with all classes combined each semester