Cypress Ridge Elementary

Congratulations to the schools that were recognized at the September 8, 2025, School Board meeting for earning "STEAM School" or "STEM School" status as a result of their participation in specific activities centered on science, technology, engineering, art and math. Click here to see a list of the schools.

To qualify as a STEAM School, schools must prepare a portfolio showcasing their efforts and provide evidence that they have met the criteria, which includes the following components:

Elementary School Requirements:

1. School Level Steam Collaborative Team

2. Problem-based learning experiences integrating science, technology, engineering, math and art provided at all grade levels.

3. STEAM Bowl team practice documentation

4. Participation in a STEAM Bowl competition for grades 3-5

5. School and district science and engineering fair participation for K-5 classrooms

6. Host a school-based STEAM Night

*Schools earning the GOLD STEAM School Award have achieved all of these requirements with full science project participation from all of their students in grades 3-5.

Middle and High School Requirements:

1. Participation in a STEAM -related competition

   • High School: Team participates in Mathlympics at Lake-Sumter State College

   • Middle School: Team participates in Mathcounts or STEAM Bowl

   • STEAM Practice Team: Students meet at least twice a month

   • Documentation: Registration, sponsor names, team names, lesson plans, student work, pictures

2. School Science Fair

   • Projects can be individual, team, or class project completed in grades 6-8 or 9-12

3. STEAM Family Night (May be held the same night as Science Fair, but must meet criteria of both.)

   • Create student STEAM related displays and presentations

   • Engage in hands-on activities aligned to content standards directed by classroom teachers

   • Invite industry-certified professional speakers

4. Problem-based learning experiences integrating math, science, and other subjects provided at all grade levels

   • Conduct a minimum of four collaborative problem-based learning experiences integrating technology documented per grade level

Gold level schools met and exceeded all expectations in their school and are actively working toward culturally embedded STEAM instruction.

Silver level schools met most of the expectations in their school and are actively working toward culturally embedded STEAM instruction.

Bronze level schools met some of the expectations and are in the beginning stages of integrating STEAM instruction in their school.