STEM Pathway

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) pathway at Deer Creek focuses on providing students with experiences in engineering and technology beyond the core contents of science and math. Through the engineering design cycle, students learn the process of ask, research, imagine, plan, create, test and improve as they work on projects in the engineering classroom. Both virtual and hands-on projects teach and reinforce the skills of critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, self-direction, agility and adaptability. Technology tools are combined with immediate application through the stages of design and fabrication.

6th Grade begins with the four core subjects of English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies and two periods of exploratory classes each trimester:   

• 6th Grade exploratory courses:
  • Exploration of Computer Science
  • Exploration of Engineering
  • Communication Skills
  • World Languages and Cultures
  • Family and Consumer Sciences 1
  • Physical Education
• Alternatively, students may choose Concert Band, Orchestra or Choir as a year-long elective, taking the place of three exploratory classes. 
  • For students who take a music course, they can indicate preferences of other courses and those will be taken into consideration when creating schedules. 
    • EX: Student who wants to take Band and wants to take classes in the STEM pathway - Engineering and Computer Science

7th Grade - Students declare a Pathway. Year two for seventh graders continues with the four core subjects and additional STEM and general electives. Seventh grade includes a total of six elective courses:

• Exploration of Engineering 2
• One course from the Technology electives (Robotics, Video Game Design, Student Technology Leaders)
• Four general electives

8th Grade - Students continue with the four core subjects and two electives each trimester. There are no electives required for the STEM pathway in eighth grade, giving students the most freedom to personalize their learning by choosing from 40 pathway and general electives. Many STEM-related offerings are among those electives, including:

• Exploration of Engineering 3
• Robotics 1 and 2
• Video Game Design
• Student Technology Leaders

For the full catalog of exploratory classes and electives, view the Deer Creek Electives Course Guide on the Course Registration page.

Jeffco’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs embrace a student-driven, inquiry-embedded instructional approach, utilizing educational models such as project- or problem-based learning and design thinking.  

In addition to core content, students have the opportunity to engage in industry-aligned STEM programming that develops the academic, technical and professional skills necessary for a successful future in STEM. All of Jeffco’s STEM programs emphasize durable skills such as communication and collaboration and transferable STEM-specific skills such as defining problems and designing solutions.