High School Programs

High school courses form the foundation of an engineering education. Students need to take challenging math and science classes to prepare for college engineering programs. NACME provides information and resources to high school students and educators through the following programs:

The NACME Guide to Engineering Colleges

This booklet contains descriptions of every undergraduate engineering college in the United States with at least one curriculum accredited by ABET (formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). It also contains information relevant to choosing a college or university, as well as a guide to financial aid.

Academies of Engineering

In response to a growing national need to educate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and to meet the increasing demand for qualified employees in the field of engineering, The National Academy Foundation, Project Lead The Way, and NACME have partnered to create small learning communities at the high school level. These new schools are called Academies of Engineering (AOE).

Innovation Grants

NACME STEM Innovation Grants provide teachers in inner-city communities with funding for projects that make students aware of opportunities to be found in engineering. The projects are aimed at turning classroom lessons into real-world applications that bring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts to life. The application deadline for the 2008–2009 school year is November 30, 2008.

Pre-engineering Scholarships

The NACME Pre-Engineering Student Scholarship Program recognizes the nation’s highest achieving African American, Latino, and American Indian high school seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to science and engineering as a career goal. Each NACME Pre-Engineering Student Scholarship winner receives a $1,500 award to be used toward the cost of attending an engineering school, as well as a certificate of recognition. The application deadline for the 2008–2009 school year is May 10, 2009.

ACE Mentor Program

NACME has partnered with ACE to create a common high school outreach program to match underrepresented minority students with adults from the working world. The program includes mentoring and the development of education- and career- related materials to support the students at Academies of Engineering. During 2006–2007, ACE had more than 2,100 volunteers in 93 locations across the nation.

Teachers Make a Difference

In partnership with Campbell-Kibler, NACME has released a series of classroom tips for STEM educators. Helping Teachers Make a Difference is an outgrowth of the GE Foundation’s Math Excellence Evaluation, a five-year grant awarded in 2001 to NACME.

Study Tool Kit (Guaranteed 4.0)

Students who wish to pursue a rigorous curriculum in STEM subjects need to employ the best methods being used to improve comprehension and retention of information. Working with a nationally recognized leader in the field, NACME will deliver a tool kit to help high school students develop good study habits. Materials will also be provided to teachers and parents to support these students’ learning experience.

MESA Program

NACME will partner with Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) to bring its programs to Academies of Engineering sites in California. One of the country’s most innovative and successful programs, MESA works with thousands of educationally disadvantaged students to help them excel in math and science and graduate with math-based degrees.