From Civic Data to the K-12 Classroom: Strengthening WPI’s Connection to Worcester Public Schools

The STEM Education Center is strengthening connections between WPI and the Worcester community through a partnership with the City of Worcester, Department of Sustainability & Resilience (WDSR) and Worcester Public Schools (WPS). 

The goal of this initiative was to create meaningful and relevant quality STEM learning experiences for WPS students, rooted in local data. The project focused on supporting a cohort of WPS middle and high school STEM educators through the process of developing classroom curricular modules that use local data, collected by the WDSR, and following best practices for curriculum development. 

Four people sit around a conference table in an office meeting room, working on laptops and reviewing documents. Bookshelves, windows, and a wall-mounted display are visible in the background, while papers, notebooks, and computers are spread across the table during a collaborative discussion.

The pilot project (January – June 2026), had selected teachers work on unpacking the WDSR data as part of a spring graduate course focused on curriculum development (EDU 520). Following multiple revisions, the teachers then tested components of the projects with their students, and revised the projects again based on feedback and student data. The projects include: The Canopy–Kilowatt Paradox at South High and Indian Lake Water Quality and can be found on the STEM Education Center’s Integrated STEM Projects Resource website. The project, led by Donna Taylor, was funded through the Worcester Department of Sustainability & Resilience.

This collaboration builds on existing connections between the STEM Education Center, Worcester Public Schools, and the City of Worcester.  

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