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Mission Vista High School Named Project Lead The Way Distinguished High School for 6th Time & 4th Straight Year

Students in Lab Coats Working Together.

Mission Vista High School (MVHS) has been recognized as a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished High School for the current school year. This is the fourth consecutive year the school has earned the distinction and the sixth time since 2017-18.

PLTW was conceptualized and founded by teachers and leading educators, with a mission to support teachers in all grades to help students become successful in STEM subjects. The organization bestows annual honors on outstanding PTLW teachers and schools implementing the Project Lead the Way Program.

Mission Vista Principal Jeremy Walden describes what the continued achievement and recognition means to the school: “To have earned Distinguished High School status from the PLTW organization is a testament to our commitment at the site level to continue providing rigorous and relevant learning experiences to all students who are interested in continuing to learn in the Biomedicine and Engineering fields. 

“The PLTW program is a cornerstone of our Science and Technology magnet theme at MVHS. Recognition like this lets us know we are making good on our promise to the VUSD community to offer unique and in-depth learning experiences for all students who show an interest in these fields.”

Data-Driven Recognition Process 

Trio Circuits.


Both individual schools, or in some cases, entire districts can apply for distinguished status. Walden says the PLTW application requires schools to provide data showing how they provide access to the Project Lead the Way program to a diverse set of students.

MVHS offers PLTW pathways in Biomedical Science and Engineering, with four courses in both subjects. Almost a quarter of MVHS students access the PLTW program via these pathways.

“Each pathway follows the national PLTW curriculum, which is rigorous, and emphasizes hands-on learning with up-to-date industry knowledge, tools, and resources,” says Walden. 

PLTW Engineering delves into subjects like environmental sustainability, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, and architecture. Students are shown how to develop a problem-solving thought process to achieve success and turn ideas into reality using real-world challenges. Through continuous experimentation in class, they get to both explore possibilities and learn from failure.

Crime Scene.

 In the PLTW Biomedical Science curriculum, students explore issues like DNA analysis, a variety of diseases, prosthetic design, public health, and more. With access to state-of-the-art tools and techniques utilized by professionals in hospitals and labs, students gain unique experience and insight into these professions.

Walden explains how the PLTW pathways develop: “In our Biomedical pathway, students complete a ‘Capstone project’ in which they design their own learning/research projects to showcase the knowledge and skills they've gained in the program.”

The Biomedical Science pathway includes classes in Human Body Systems and Medical Interventions (2nd and 3rd year courses) which are articulated with community colleges so students can earn both high school and college credit for completion. This year the pathway has added an industry certification exam called the BACE (Biotechnology Assistant Credentialing Exam) offered by Bioltility with the University of Florida; 26 MVHS seniors are taking the exam.

“Some students finish their respective pathways as juniors and choose to enter the MVHS-specific Senior Capstone course, ‘My Vision Personalized’, to continue working in the field on similar capstone projects,” continues Walden. “We partner with mentors in the building and outside partners to guide them in their further research endeavors.”

MVHS teacher, Dara Rosen, has been a cornerstone of the PLTW program in Southern California; several years ago she won the California Project Lead the Way Biomed Teacher of the Year Award. She also leads PLTW training for teachers across the country who are being onboarded to the program in their local contexts. 

Walden summarizes: “This recognition is a validation of the work we're doing and one of several metrics with merit that indicate we're on the right path as we try to serve every student every day.”

Students in Lab Coats Working Together.