Houston High School Students In Texas A&M Summer Math, Science Program

Approximately 38 high school students are getting a jump on college this summer through the Aggie-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Summer Experience at Texas A&M University. The summer program is hosted by the Aggie-STEM Center in the College of Education and Human Development.

The 11th-grade students are from Energized for STEM Academy, a charter school in the Houston Independent School District for students interested in STEM-oriented careers.

Robert Capraro, associate professor of mathematics education at Texas A&M, says the two-week summer program is designed with three objectives. First, it gives high school students a glimpse of campus life and encourages them to consider later applying to Texas A&M.

“Second, we want these students to have better STEM learning and more powerful knowledge and skills that can be applied across all areas to solve real-world problems,” he says.

Third, the summer program works with the students on content and test-taking skills to improve performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, says Mary Margaret Capraro, assistant professor of mathematics education at Texas A&M.

Taught by STEM faculty and graduate students from across the university, the program participants attend project-based learning classes where they build integrated STEM knowledge through hands-on activities.

“They have different activities where they’re working on everything from algebra and geometry to engineering and technology,” Capraro says.

The students also live in campus residence halls and eat on campus. They enjoy recreational activities in the evenings, such as sports, games, bowling and movies.

“I hope to get a feel for what the college experience is like,” says Passion Scott, one of the program participants. “I also want to try to boost my PSAT scores so that I can do well and get into the college I want.”