Ralston’s STEAM Lab offers exciting survey classes that introduce students to the CTE (Career Technical Education) pathways they can follow in high school and beyond. Through hands-on, project-based learning, students get an early look at career-focused courses that can lead to certifications and specialized training in high school. Our goal is to help students discover their passions early and give them a head start on building real-world skills.

Currently, the STEAM Lab offers four Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses: Medical Detectives, Design and Modeling, App Creators, and VEX Robotics. Each course is carefully designed to give students a taste of different career pathways — from healthcare and biomedical sciences to engineering, computer science, and advanced manufacturing. These classes are engaging, creative, and hands-on, giving students the chance to solve real-world problems, collaborate in teams, and build critical thinking skills.

Students who complete all four PLTW courses will be recognized as PLTW Scholars at 8th Grade Awards Night, where they will receive a special medal to honor their achievement. Students can also proudly wear their PLTW Scholar medal at 8th Grade Graduation as a symbol of their hard work and dedication. After completing these survey classes, students will be better prepared to choose a CTE pathway in high school that matches their interests and career goals.

The classes are not only educational but also a lot of fun! Whether you're designing a prototype, coding a mobile app, investigating a medical mystery, or building a competition-ready robot, there's always something exciting happening in the STEAM Lab. We can't wait to see how our future innovators, creators, and leaders will grow from here!