Beginning next year, New Hyde Park Memorial will phase out Project Lead The Way courses at the middle school level as part of curriculum changes associated with New York State’s new Regents requirements. While seventh and eighth-grade PLTW courses will be replaced with new literacy-focused offerings, PLTW programs at the high school level will continue to be offered.
For years, PLTW has aided students with hands-on, project-based learning experiences designed to introduce them to future careers in science, engineering and other related fields. Through interactive activities, projects and real-world applications, the program has helped students develop practical skills while exploring potential career interests.
“PLTW has been really helpful in helping me prepare for my future career,” sophomore Zhixuan Wu said. “The website’s interactive functions have exposed me to practical experience that I can apply in real-world situations, making me better prepared for my future goals and career.”
The decision to discontinue PLTW was made due to the implementation of the new Regents, which place a greater emphasis on literacy-based education across multiple subject areas. As a result, courses such as Energy and the Environment and Medical Detectives will no longer be offered to seventh and eighth-grade students.
“I think the changes to discontinue PLTW were necessary due to the implementation of the new Regents, especially because of the increased need for literacy-based education,” science chairperson Mr. McLeer said.
“I really enjoy the PLTW classes, so I’ll be sad to see them go,” eighth grader Vihaan Masireddy said. “I liked Energy and the Environment because the class was really interesting, and I have a lot of good memories from Medical Detectives too.”
Although these courses will be removed, the school plans to introduce new classes that align with the updated curriculum standards. One of the new eighth-grade courses that will replace a PLTW offering is Powering the Planet.
“I feel that PLTW being discontinued would do a disservice to hundreds of students at NHP who use the website,” freshman Esme George said. “As someone who learns better through more interactive websites such as PLTW, I value being able to visualize certain things through diagrams, labs and activities. Without this resource, I think that future students might struggle to grasp certain concepts that would’ve been more straightforward through PLTW’s hands-on approach.”
While PLTW’s presence at the middle school level will come to an end, the program will continue to be a part of New Hyde Park Memorial’s high school curriculum through courses such as Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems. As the school transitions to new literacy-based courses, students and staff alike hope to preserve the hands-on learning experiences that have made PLTW a valued part of science education at NHP.
