Applications for the 2026-27 school year open Sept. 8-22
Victoria ISD is providing students with the opportunity to explore, create, collaborate and problem-solve through a connected STEM Pathway that begins at Smith STEM Academy, continues through STEM Middle School and extends to Victoria East High School.
Applications for the 2026-27 school year will be open Sept. 8 through Sept. 22, 2026, giving families the opportunity to apply for the STEM Pathway through the VISD Student Transfer Program.
The STEM Pathway is designed to provide students with a continuous educational experience centered on science, technology, engineering and mathematics while building the skills students need to be successful in school, college, careers and beyond.
One Pathway. Three Schools. Endless Possibilities.
Smith STEM Academy
At Smith STEM Academy, students in kindergarten through fifth grade are immersed in hands-on STEM experiences designed to build skills and spark curiosity from an early age.
In addition to quarterly project-based learning experiences, students participate in STEM-focused specials. Through Robotics, students develop coding and computational-thinking skills. In Makerspace, students use the Engineering Design Process to identify challenges, design and test solutions, and solve real-world problems. Through Career and Technical Education (CTE), students are also introduced to career pathways they can continue exploring as they progress through the STEM Pathway.
Students also begin making connections between their learning and future careers through Smith STEM Academy's fifth-grade internship program. The experience begins with STEM Career Day, where students learn about careers and meet professionals from the community. Students then apply and interview for internship opportunities with community partners before participating in a hands-on experience at their partner's workplace.
Through the process, students develop communication, collaboration, problem-solving and professionalism skills while gaining an early look at how their interests and education can connect to future careers.
STEM Middle School
At STEM Middle School, students build upon those foundational experiences through coursework that places an increased emphasis on engineering, manufacturing, technology and problem-solving.
Through Principles of Manufacturing and Principles of Engineering courses, students learn the skills involved in taking a robot from an idea to reality. Hands-on experiences introduce students to coding, computer-aided design (CAD), engineering and design processes, building and fabrication, and robotics.
Students also have opportunities to extend their STEM learning beyond the classroom. Through STEM summer camps, students visited the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, where they explored robotics and drone technology before applying what they learned through coding and flying a drone. Students were also introduced to emerging transportation technologies and other innovations that demonstrate how STEM is shaping the future.
These experiences allow students to apply classroom concepts in collaborative, project-based environments while developing technical and problem-solving skills connected to future opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, robotics and other STEM fields.
Victoria East High School
At Victoria East High School, students continue building upon their STEM foundation through advanced coursework and opportunities to apply their skills in authentic, career-connected environments.
Through work-based learning opportunities such as Titan Media Industries, Broadcast students gain experience producing live coverage of Victoria East athletic events. Students work with local businesses, prepare interviews with athletes and coaches, compile media assets, manage audio equipment and provide in-game analysis. Through the process, students gain practical experience while developing technical, communication and production skills.
Students can also explore STEM applications within fields such as healthcare. Through connections with nurses and other healthcare professionals, students have opportunities to hear directly from industry professionals and learn how concepts from the classroom are applied in healthcare settings. These interactions provide students with greater insight into healthcare careers while strengthening critical-thinking skills and connecting their education to future career possibilities.
Through these experiences, students strengthen essential skills including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving. These skills are intentionally embedded throughout the STEM learning environment, allowing students to master grade-level content while learning how to apply their knowledge through real-world and simulated challenges.
The STEM Pathway also provides opportunities for students to make connections between what they are learning in the classroom and STEM careers, industries and experiences within the community and beyond.
At Victoria East High School, students continue building upon their STEM foundation through advanced coursework and opportunities to apply their skills in authentic, career-connected environments.
Through work-based learning opportunities such as Titan Media Industries, Broadcast students gain hands-on experience producing live coverage of Victoria East athletic events. Students prepare interviews with athletes and coaches, work with local businesses, compile media assets, manage audio equipment and provide in-game analysis. These experiences allow students to develop technical, communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills while gaining practical experience in media and broadcasting.
Career connections also extend into healthcare. Through partnerships with nurses and other healthcare professionals, students hear directly from those working in the field and learn how concepts they study in the classroom are applied in real-world healthcare settings. Industry professionals serve as guest speakers and share their knowledge and experiences, helping students better understand healthcare careers and the skills needed to succeed in them.
Throughout the STEM Pathway, students strengthen essential skills including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving. These skills are intentionally embedded throughout the STEM learning environment, allowing students to master grade-level content while learning how to apply their knowledge through real-world and simulated challenges.
Community and industry connections further allow students to see STEM careers and technologies in action and begin envisioning themselves in those fields.
From a fifth grader experiencing a career firsthand through an internship to a middle school student designing and programming a robot to a high school student applying technical skills in a work-based learning environment, each stage of the pathway builds upon the one before it.
The result is more than three individual STEM campuses. Together, Smith STEM Academy, STEM Middle School and Victoria East High School provide a pathway designed to grow with students and continuously build upon their knowledge, skills and experiences.
Applications Open Sept. 8
The VISD STEM Pathway is open to students through the VISD Student Transfer Program. Families interested in joining the STEM Pathway for the 2026-27 school year may apply during the application window from Sept. 8-22, 2026.
From a student's first STEM experiences in elementary school to advanced opportunities in high school, Victoria ISD is creating a pathway where students can discover their interests, develop their talents and prepare for what comes next.
One pathway. Three schools. Endless possibilities.
Learn more about the VISD STEM Pathway and the application process at www.visd.net/STEM.