Science & Technology
Lufkin ISD Announces Dedicated STEM School for Grades 6-12
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Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 20:40 GMT by KLTV- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Lufkin ISD Announces New STEM‑Focused School to Drive Student Success in the 2025‑2026 Academic Year
Lufkin Independent School District (LISD) has revealed a bold new initiative for the upcoming school year: the opening of a dedicated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) school that will serve students from grades 6‑12. The announcement, made during a district‑wide press conference on December 19, 2025, comes amid a growing national push to strengthen STEM education and bridge the skills gap in the United States’ workforce. The district’s goal is to create a pipeline of students who are not only academically prepared but also ready to thrive in high‑tech industries that are rapidly expanding in East Texas.
What the STEM School Will Offer
The STEM school, slated to open its doors in September 2026, will be housed in a newly renovated wing of the district’s existing Lufkin High School campus. The district has invested $12.5 million in the project, funded through a combination of local bond measures, state grants, and private philanthropy. A key feature of the facility will be a 24‑hour makerspace equipped with 3D printers, robotics kits, and high‑speed computers. In addition, the school will feature state‑of‑the‑art laboratories for chemistry, physics, and biology that are compliant with the latest safety regulations.
Curriculum-wise, LISD is adopting a rigorous, interdisciplinary framework that blends core academic standards with project‑based learning. Students will complete “capstone” projects each year—ranging from designing energy‑efficient prototypes to developing software applications that solve real‑world problems. The district has also partnered with the Texas Advanced Technology Council (TATC) to integrate the district’s new STEM curriculum with statewide standards, ensuring that students will be prepared for advanced placement (AP) courses and college‑level coursework.
Partnerships That Drive the Initiative
LISD has forged partnerships with several local and regional organizations to make the STEM school a success. Among them:
- Lufkin‑Shackelford County Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) – LEDC will provide internship placements for upper‑classmen at local firms such as Lufkin Energy Corp., Shackelford Agricultural Research, and Tex‑Nano Technologies.
- University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) – The university will offer dual‑enrollment courses in computer science, bioengineering, and data analytics. UTA’s STEM Outreach Program will send faculty to the school to conduct workshops and mentorship sessions.
- KLTN 90.7 FM – The local radio station is partnering with the district to create a student‑run “STEM Show” that will broadcast weekly segments on science and technology topics, featuring interviews with industry leaders and district teachers.
These partnerships were highlighted in the article, with a direct link to the LEDC’s official announcement page (https://ledc.org/partnering-with-isd). Students and parents can view a calendar of upcoming internship and mentorship events on the district’s website (https://www.lufkinisd.org/stem-events).
How the School Will Impact Student Success
District Superintendent Dr. Maria Gonzales emphasized that the STEM school is part of a larger strategy to raise graduation rates and improve college readiness. “By immersing students in hands‑on learning environments and connecting them with industry professionals, we’re giving them the tools they need to succeed in the 21st‑century economy,” she said.
The district plans to use a data‑driven approach to monitor student progress. According to the article, LISD will implement a new Learning Management System (LMS) that tracks individual student engagement and achievement metrics. Early data from a pilot program—conducted last year with a cohort of 30 students—showed a 15 % increase in science scores and a 20 % rise in student‑reported confidence in math.
In addition, the district has secured a grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) that will provide scholarships for students who graduate from the STEM school and commit to pursuing STEM majors at a Texas university. The scholarship information can be found in a linked resource within the article (https://thecb.texas.gov/scholarships/tex-stem).
Community Reaction and Future Outlook
The announcement was met with enthusiastic support from the Lufkin community. A local parent, Angela Brooks, expressed her excitement, “I can’t wait to see my daughter apply her coding skills in real projects. It feels like the district is finally keeping up with the future.” Business leaders echoed this sentiment; Tom Hargreaves, CEO of Lufkin Energy Corp., noted that the company expects a “much larger pool of qualified young talent” in the coming years.
City Councilmember Luis Hernandez, who served as the district’s liaison to the city’s economic development council, highlighted the broader economic impact. “A STEM‑focused education system doesn’t just benefit individual students—it strengthens our entire region’s competitiveness,” he said. The article also mentioned a planned town hall next month to gather feedback from parents, students, and teachers on the curriculum’s structure.
Looking ahead, LISD intends to evaluate the STEM school’s performance every year and expand it to include middle‑school grades by 2028. The district’s leadership team, including Superintendent Gonzales, Principal of the new STEM school (to be announced), and the district’s STEM Advisory Board, will continue to collaborate with local universities and businesses to keep the curriculum current with industry trends.
Conclusion
Lufkin ISD’s initiative to open a dedicated STEM school marks a significant step toward aligning local education with the demands of a technology‑driven economy. By combining cutting‑edge facilities, a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum, robust industry partnerships, and a data‑driven approach to student success, the district is setting a new standard for how public schools can prepare students for the future. As the district moves into the 2025‑2026 school year, the community—and the state—will be watching closely to see how this bold experiment translates into measurable gains in academic achievement, workforce readiness, and regional economic growth.
Read the Full KLTV Article at:
[ https://www.kltv.com/2025/12/19/lufkin-isd-introduces-stem-school-upcoming-school-year-effort-boost-student-success/ ]
