Betsy DeVos visits Purdue Polytechnic High School, sees project-based learning in action 

Arika Herron, Indianapolis Star

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was greeted at Purdue Polytechnic High School's maker space by the smell of sawdust, the sound of power tools and more than a dozen safety goggle-wearing students with heads bent over half-built catapults. 

Courtesy of Purdue News Service WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Some of the key mottos for Purdue Polytechnic High School Indianapolis are “learn through STEM and design thinking immersion,” “personalized learning,” and “learn by doing.”

They are concepts that seem to be sticking for the charter school, which just opened its doors in 2017. STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Jeremiah Sweeny starts his day at Purdue Polytechnic High School at 8:45 a.m. He and about 15 of his classmates map out their daily plans to meet their academic and project plan goals, while teachers track students’ competency levels, academic needs and progress. The first part of his day – called his Personalized Learning Community – also includes instruction on teamwork and employability skills. 

Colten Lewis enjoys the flexibility of his schedule and the ability to explore his interests. Like all students at Purdue Polytechnic High School, Colten masters core academic subjects, as well as problem-solving, project management and creative thinking skills, by immersing himself in a six-week project.

Indianapolis has a national reputation as a thriving tech hub. What skills do you need to join the newest generation of tech workers? Kenzie Academy, an Indianapolis-based design and coding school, has been eager to help Purdue Polytechnic High School students answer that question.