To continue the goal of being a district with leading-edge learning experiences, the Arlington ISD has partnered with The University of Texas at Arlington for a new STEM Academy - science, technology, engineering and math - that will open in August 2015 at Martin High School.

Select Martin High School faculty and principal Marlene Roddy and representatives from UT Arlington's College of Science and College of Engineering have worked together to lay the foundation for this groundbreaking academy. Students will have the opportunity to earn high school and college credits along four pathways - engineering, biology/biomedical science, computer science and math/science.

"The new STEM Academy will deliver on our commitment to science and technology instruction and our focus on preparing our students to excel in higher education or the career of their choice," Arlington ISD Superintendent Marcelo Cavazos said. "There is a need for more STEM graduates in our country, and we feel strongly about helping students in our district lay the groundwork for a future in the high-demand fields of science, technology, engineering and math."

"The STEM Academy is one more step toward an increasingly strong partnership between UT Arlington and one of the state's largest school districts to create opportunity and to ensure that students are well prepared to succeed in college," UT Arlington President Vistasp Karbhari said. "Together, we will ignite students' interest in the world of inquiry, expand their horizons and show them how they can achieve their dreams in the fields of science, engineering and math."

STEM Academy students will be recruited in their seventh- and eighth-grade years, and the admission process will include an application and interview.

The program will debut in fall 2015 with about 100 ninth graders from across the district, and 100 students will be added each year until the program enrolls about 400 students across grades 9-12. There are no fees associated with being a part of the STEM Academy.

Students in the STEM Academy will have a chance to complete many of their first year STEM college courses prior to high school graduation. Students will be able to advance their STEM education outside the classroom as well, with opportunities that include: internships, mentorships, job shadowing, community service, enrichment programs and a summer academy.

Ongoing research and planning for the formation of the STEM Academy will continue into the fall of 2014, and the recruitment and application process will begin in January 2015. The inaugural year for the STEM Academy will be the 2015-2016 school year.