What are STEm/steam Schools?

STEM/STEAM Schools can vary as much as the communities and students they serve. They can be at the beginning of their Transformation, middle, re-launch, or decades into implementation. At the core of STEM/STEAM School education are students, assets, lived experiences, and the integration of content areas to create relevant learning.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, while STEAM adds Art integration and Art processes to STEM learning. Schools can approach this in many ways; through integration of each of the STEAM subjects, through transdisciplinary instruction of ELA, Social Studies, SEL, and all STEAM areas. What is most important is starting the STEAM journey and building off the assets and lived experiences of the communities your school is privileged to serve.

In the fall of 2012, Portland Metro STEM Partnership began working with seven schools that wanted to become STEAM Transformation Schools. Since then a number of additional schools in our region and state-wide have started their STEAM Transformation. These schools have become rich STEAM learning environments that foster student STEAM identity by helping students apply their learning, becoming avid problem solvers, designers, and investigators.

In 2019, we engaged schools, partners, and other STEM Hubs to co-develop a research-based STEM School Certification and Designation Process. This process was piloted in 2022-23 and revised based on feedback from the 11 schools involved.

To learn more about STE(A)M schools, check out this Definition of a STE(A)M School developed by our STE(A)M educators and our video on the Benefits of STE(A)M in Elementary School.

2023-2025 Partner Schools

  • Barnes Elementary School (Beaverton, PMSP)

  • Butternut Creek Elementary School (Hillsboro, PMSP)

  • Davis Elementary School (Reynolds, EMSP)

  • Glencoe Elementary School (Portland, PMSP)

  • Imlay Elementary School (Hillsboro, PMSP)

  • Kinnaman Elementary School (Beaverton, PMSP)

  • Ladd Acres Elementary School (Hillsboro, PMSP)

  • Quatama Elementary School (Hillsboro, PMSP)

  • Sacagewea Head Start (Portland, PMSP)

  • Sweetbriar Elementary School (Reynolds, EMSP)

  • Tobias Elementary School (Beaverton, PMSP)

  • Troutdale Elementary School (Reynolds, EMSP)

2019-2023 Partner Schools

  • Gervais Elementary (Gervais. South Metro STEM Partnership)

  • Scotts Mills Elementary (Silver Falls, South Metro STEM Partnership)

  • Troutdale Elementary (Reynolds, East Metro STEM Partnership)

  • Warrenton Middle School (Warrenton, Oregon Coast STEM Hub)

  • Taft Middle School (Lincoln County, Oregon Coast STEM Hub)

  • Sutherlin West Intermediate (Sutherlin, Umpqua Valley STEM Hub)

  • Davis Elementary (Reynolds, East Metro STEM Partnership)

  • Creston Elementary (Portland, Portland Metro STEM Partnership)

  • Buckingham Elementary (Bend-La Pine, Central Oregon STEM Hub)

  • Farmington View Elementary (Hillsboro, Portland Metro STEM Parternship)

  • Sisters Elementary (Sisters, Central Oregon STEM Hub)

  • Aloha-Huber Park K-8 (Beaverton, Portland Metro STEM Partnership)

  • Meadow Park Middle School (Beaverton, Portland Metro STEM Partnership)

  • Hazeldale Elementary (Beaverton, Portland Metro STEM Partnership)

2012-2019 Partner Schools

  • Boise-Elliot Humboldt ES (Portland)

  • Faubion K-8 (Portland)

  • Vernon ES (Portland)

  • Formerly Harrison Park K-8, currently MS (Portland)

  • Chehalem ES (Beaverton)

  • Highland Park MS (Beaverton)

  • Vose ES (Beaverton)

  • Quatama ES (Hillsboro)

  • Imlay ES (Hillsboro)

  • Farmington View ES (Hillsboro)

  • McKinney ES (Hillsboro)

  • Groner K-8 (Hillsboro)

  • Tobias ES (Hillsboro)