Union City’s Jose Marti STEM Academy is expanding students’ minds during its Summer Enrichment Program with hands on research both in the classroom and at partnered colleges and universities, including Stevens Institute of Technology, NJIT, Rutgers, both the New Brunswick and Newark campuses, Montclair State University, St. Peter’s, Cornell and Columbia Universities, to name a few.
Several hundred students are enrolled in the program this summer, studying and doing research in a wide range of STEM fields, giving them a heads up before they enter college. Topics such as robotics, biochemistry, cybersecurity, computer science, coding and engineering are just a few examples of the fields of study being tackled by the students.
In order to attend the Summer Enrichment Program, students must apply. The Board of Education reviews their academic records before accepting them into the highly advanced program.
Jose Marti STEM Academy has only been a separate, full time high school within the Union City School District for five years. Despite being relatively new, the school has been ranked as the number one STEM high school in Hudson County by the New Jersey Department of Education based on student testing. The test scores far exceed those of most New Jersey school districts, as well as districts throughout the United States.
District STEM Supervisor Nadia Makar credits the success of the students to the tremendous commitment made by the District’s leadership, from the Mayor and Board of Commissioners, to Superintendent of Schools Silvia Abbato and the Board Trustees to the entire teaching staff, many of whom have PhDs in their field.
A unique aspect of the Summer Enrichment Program sees students from the upper grade levels mentoring younger students. This allows them to gain perspective on what the program is all about, helping them decide whether they want to enroll.
The Summer Enrichment Program is opening doors of opportunities for Union City students, giving them a path to bright and successful careers.