Students who attend the STEM Academy at Martin High School will be equipped to pursue a STEM-related career as they develop professional life skills.
Students of the STEM cohort will take their STEM-related academic curriculum and core classes together in a collaborative environment. They can select a STEM pathway(s) of greatest interest including engineering, biology/biomedical science, computer science and math/science.
A partnership with UT Arlington means that STEM students can earn AP credit and dual credit in their STEM major. On the high school campus, they will experience integration of STEM content into other core classes such as English and history.
The opportunities for learning are endless as students can attend talks by professionals about STEM careers and participate in STEM field trips, competitions and student organizations. During their freshman year, all students will have a faculty mentor to teach them the ropes.

The overall goal of the STEM Academy at Martin High School is to expose students to rigorous science, technology, engineering and math curriculum in order to develop a pathway to a future STEM career. Additionally, students become socially responsible, globally aware and locally engaged.
When STEM Academy students get to college, this diverse group should be fully equipped to handle the workload with no remediation required.
To reduce the financial burden of college, this program ensures that STEM students earn up to 30 semester credit hours from UT Arlington before graduation and that students graduate with additional college credit through AP courses.
Finally, the STEM Academy at Martin High School is focused on building each student’s leadership, communication and collaboration skills.

Yes, students can earn college credit through scores on AP exams taken through AP classes and through dual credit courses offered by Tarrant County College and the University of Texas at Arlington. Students are responsible for the cost of AP exams and dual credit courses taken through TCC. The STEM Academy at Martin High School covers the cost of tuition and required textbooks for dual credit courses taken through UTA.

Students can apply online at www.aisd.net/specializedprograms or www.aisd.net/stem-academy/. The application window for the 2024 - 2025 school year opens Tuesday, Oct. 24, at noon and closes on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 at 5 p.m. Students and parents must fill out the application completely and then the selection process will begin. Parent information sessions will be posted on the specialized programs page.

The STEM Academy Selection Committee will review all student applications and grades. Selected students will be interviewed by a panel of Arlington ISD STEM Academy and Martin High School faculty, staff and administrators. After the interview, the students will be asked to write an essay in response to a provided prompt. The STEM Academy will request teacher recommendations from the schools currently attended by the applicants.
Based on the application, grades, interview, student essay and teacher recommendations, the most qualified applicants will be admitted.

Students entering the ninth grade in the fall are eligible to apply. Students cannot apply for admission after the eighth grade.

Invitations will be sent out on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at 4:30 pm, directly from specialized program campuses. Families receive one notification, either an invitation from a specialized program campus or an email explaining other opportunities if a student is not accepted into a specialized program.

There is no cost to attend the Arlington ISD STEM Academy at Martin High School.

Yes. Transportation will be provided before and after school for students between Arlington ISD’s other five traditional high schools – or students who live more than two miles from Martin High School and are zoned to attend MHS – and the STEM Academy at Martin High School. In addition, bus transportation is provided back to each home campus at 5:30 p.m. to allow students to participate in after-school activities. Bus transportation is not provided to students that do not live in the Arlington ISD attendance zone.

Each year 150-175 incoming freshman students will be selected for the STEM Academy. Approximately 400 students apply each year.

Must be an incoming freshman willing to commit to a four-year program
Must maintain a semester average of 80 or better in all 7th and 8th grade core classes without any failing grades in any course
Must be currently enrolled in algebra I or geometry
Must have an exemplary attendance and discipline history
Must be willing to be enrolled and attend courses at Martin High School, home of the Arlington ISD STEM Academy
Must be willing to commit to after school, Saturday and summer activities

Residents outside of Arlington ISD boundaries will be offered admission after all Arlington ISD residents have been placed. Out-of-district siblings of current STEM Academy students are exempt from this requirement.

No.

Students cannot reapply as they move through their sophomore, junior, and senior years. The curriculum students engage with includes high school and dual credit courses, which are rigorous and fast-paced. Accepting students outside these cohorts is difficult because the courses are in a particular sequence or path.

Yes, a student can apply to other programs:
Arlington College and Career High School
Arlington Collegiate High School
Bowie P-TECH
Lamar P-TECH
Sam Houston P-TECH
Seguin P-TECH

During the application window, several parent information meetings are held to review the program design, expectations and to discuss the application process. Parents must attend a parent meeting.

Students in the STEM Academy can take language courses offered at Martin High School, including Spanish, French, German, Latin and American Sign Language.
Students in the STEM Academy can participate in the many leadership opportunities at Martin High School such as Student Council, Key Club, NMHS, NHS, NTHS, NSHS and STEM Leadership programs.
Martin High School offers all the fine arts including band, orchestra, theater, choir and art. There are many STEM activities and organizations at the STEM Academy including Robotics, STEM Solar Racing, Roboboat, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Technical Student Association, National Technical Honor Society, Math National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and National Honor Society.

Yes, STEM Academy students may participate in all sports, fine arts, clubs and organizations offered at Martin High School. Please note that freshman student athletes who transfer to Martin High School via the STEM Academy are not permitted to participate in their sport at the varsity level during their freshman year. Refer to the Academics, Fine Arts and Athletic links on the Martin High School website.

The STEM Academy school day will follow the same Arlington ISD schedule with school beginning at 7:35 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m. Students participating in courses at UTA or the Career and Technical Center may have extended hours.

STEM Academy shirts will be available for students and will be required on certain school days, such as a field trip day or other special event days. However, students will not be required to wear uniforms as part of their school day. During the senior year, students may be required to wear special attire if engaged in an internship. This attire may include but is not limited to a uniform or business defined attire.

Students in the STEM Academy are required to complete all state requirements for graduation, including the fulfillment of an Endorsement in STEM or Public Service.

No.

To learn more about the STEM Academy at Martin High School, or any of Arlington ISD’s specialized programs, go to aisd.net/specializedprograms or email specialprograms@aisd.net.