Paramount, CA – Paramount Unified will accept applications through Friday, Jan. 19 for the new Odyssey STEM Academy, a high school launching in Lakewood that will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum.

Odyssey will begin with a freshman class of about 150 students in 2018-19. Students will be selected Feb. 12 through a lottery, with families living within District boundaries receiving priority.

Applications are available at Paramount Unified middle schools or on the Odyssey STEM Academy website. Informational meetings have been scheduled to brief families about the application process at: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Alondra Middle School, 16200 Downey Ave., Paramount; at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Jan. 13 at Odyssey STEM Academy, 3701 Michelson Street, CA 90712; and at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Paramount Park Middle School, 14608 Paramount Blvd, Paramount, CA 90723.
“There’s a great deal of excitement from the community surrounding Odyssey STEM Academy and the opportunity to provide our children with advanced education,” Odyssey Academy Principal Keith Nuthall said. “The curriculum will engage scholars in society’s most challenging issues and push students to be their best.”

Odyssey will offer an engineering or biomedical pathway through Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of STEM curriculum, and use project-based learning to teach students to identify and solve real-world problems.

The District plans to create a bridge from its middle school’s PLTW curriculum, which offers a broad scope of STEM learning, to its pathway offerings at Paramount High School and Odyssey. Paramount High School offers computer-integrated manufacturing as an engineering pathway.
“Our District’s emphasis on technology has ensured that we are preparing our students for success in college and career,” Superintendent Dr. Ruth Pérez said. “Odyssey will further our commitment to developing future scholars.”

Odyssey will add a grade level each year until achieving full enrollment at 600 students – significantly less than Paramount’s other high school programs.

“Odyssey STEM Academy will provide our students with the tools they need to thrive in today’s world,” Board of Education President Linda Garcia said. “Our children deserve the best that we can offer them, and the new school represents our very best.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

111717_PARAMOUNT_ODYSSEY1: Applications for the new Odyssey STEM Academy are available at Paramount Unified middle schools or on the Odyssey STEM Academy website.

111717_PARAMOUNT_ODYSSEY2: Odyssey STEM Academy will begin with a freshman class in 2018-19 and add a grade level each year until achieving full enrollment at 600 students.