Loudoun School Is VA's First Traditional High School To Earn STEM Certification

ASHBURN, VA — While Virginia has specialized STEM schools like Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, some traditional high schools can be a resource for students exploring these career paths. Briar Woods High School in Loudoun County is the state's first traditional high school to earn the STEM certification from Cognia, according to Loudoun County Public Schools.

Cognia, a nonprofit that provides accreditation and certification services to schools, recognizes schools that have an effective focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Briar Woods High School received Cognia’s STEM certification in May and was previously accredited with distinction in 2021.

Since last spring, Briar Woods High School worked with the Chantilly office of Engineering Consulting Services, a company specializing in geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and facilities engineering. The company collaborated with Briar Woods teachers and staff to incorporate STEM into all content areas. For example, Briar Woods principal Sheila Alzate said a dual enrollment English teacher added research about off-shore oil drilling into class writing assignments, and two math teachers applied learning about how variables affect concrete stability into class assignments.

"Briar Woods’ partnership with ECS has allowed Briar Woods’ teachers to include project-based learning with authentic tasks that connect to the real world in their lessons," said Alzate in a statement. "For our teachers to see their content area at work, how it applies to the workforce, and what skills students will need in the workforce is beneficial not only to students but also to the staff."

As an example of what this looks like, Alzate referenced a dual enrollment English teacher who partnered with an ECS staff member to incorporate research about off-shore oil drilling into one of her class writing assignments. As another example, Alzate shared about two Briar Woods math teachers who worked with ECS to learn more about the variables that impact concrete stability and applied this technical knowledge to class assignments.

Briar Woods High School will continue to work with ECS next school year.