Project Lead The Way Distinguished Gateway Schools

Cedar Heights, John Sedgwick, and Marcus Whitman Middle Schools Receieve National Recognition for Commitment to Empowering Students

All three schools named as distinguished school for STEM and career learning program

Port Orchard, Washington – South Kitsap School District announced that Cedar Heights, John Sedgwick, and Marcus Whitman Middle Schools have been recognized again as Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools. They are three of just 158 middle schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW Gateway. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S. 

The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, each school had to meet the following criteria: 

• School offered at least one PLTW Gateway unit in each grade (6-8) during the 2021-22 school year.
• At least 50 percent of students in the school participated in a PLTW Gateway unit during the 2021-22 school year.
• At least 25 percent of students who participated in a PLTW Gateway unit during the 2021-22 school year also participated in at least one other PLTW Gateway unit (two or more units total) during their tenure at the school.
• School has strategies and/or procedures in place to support reasonably proportional representation within the PLTW program with regard to race, ethnicity, poverty, gender, etc.

“It is a great honor to recognize Cedar Heights, John Sedgwick, and Marcus Whitman Middle Schools for their unwavering commitment to provide students with an excellent educational experience despite the unusual circumstances and unique challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presented to the educational landscape this past year,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of PLTW. “They should be very proud of their achievements in unlocking their students’ potential and equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in life beyond the classroom no matter what career path they choose.”

South Kitsap School District is part of a community of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a passion for providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s recognition program, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition.  

For more information on South Kitsap School District Middle School PLTW Gateway program, contact Sara Hatfield, Director of Career & Technical Education at 360-874-6285.