COVINA, CA – Traweek Middle School and Covina High School offer students a continuous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experience through their partnership with Project Lead the Way (PLTW), allowing students to build advanced, career-ready skills from middle school into high school.

PLTW is a nonprofit organization that develops hands-on, project-based STEM curricula from elementary through high school. At Traweek, students begin their engineering journey through introductory and advanced PLTW courses that introduce them to concepts including measurement, coding, and mechanisms. Students use these concepts to design and build their own cardboard shoes, measure and launch skimmers, and build and program robots.

“Covina High and Traweek are the only two feeder schools in the District that offer engineering through Project Lead the Way,” Traweek PLTW teacher Shelly Warschaw said. “It’s a progression with an escalation of projects from middle to high school, so it’s great to be able to offer the program at both levels to ensure our students are prepared for success.”

At Covina High, PLTW curriculum is incorporated into the school’s engineering career technical education (CTE) pathway, a four-year program with classes in robotics, introduction to engineering and design, principles of engineering, and engineering design development – the senior capstone course.

The pathway also gives students the chance to apply what they learn through hands-on projects and competitions. Students on the school’s robotics team design and build robots for the VEX Robotics Competition, one of the largest robotics competitions in the world. This year, students will also showcase their knowledge at the SkillsUSA Competition. 

“Pathways like these are essential for generating job skills and strong resumes,” Covina High engineering teacher Andy Frogue said. “Competitions are also impactful for students as they are able to showcase the skills they’ve learned and start networking and building relationships with others. It’s all to help prepare them for college and career success.”

The connection between Traweek and Covina High helps students enter the high school pathway with a foundation in engineering concepts, coding, and robotics. Warschaw and Frogue communicate about the progression of the programs, and students from both campuses have opportunities to visit one another throughout the school year to showcase what they are learning.

“I can tell the difference between students who are brand new to the pathway and those who come from Traweek’s PLTW classes,” Frogue said. “They’re already familiar with the robot brains, coding, and how certain mechanisms work together.”

Frogue said roughly 80% of his engineering students attend a four-year university after graduating, with a strong pipeline established between Covina High and Cal Poly, Pomona and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Students go on to pursue careers in mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering, as well as physics and computer science.

Covina High offers multiple hands-on CTE pathways, including aviation and aerospace, agriscience, theater, and more, offering students many opportunities to explore various interests. For this reason, Frogue said not all Traweek PLTW students continue into the engineering CTE pathway, but the foundation they gain can still give them valuable experience as they explore their options in high school.

At Traweek, Warschaw serves as the advisor for Femineers, a program that encourages female students to explore STEM. She also teaches separate computer science and esports classes. In the 2025-26 school year, Traweek’s esports team debuted at the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Esports/Cyber Cup tournament, earning second place. Esports also continues at the high school level, with Covina High’s esports team registered for CIF this year.

“Providing innovative STEM opportunities gives our students the chance to discover their passions, solve real problems, and begin building skills that will serve them well in college and future careers,” Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Blackmore said. “The opportunities at Traweek and Covina High give students a strong foundation to unlock their unlimited potential.” 

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

CVUSD_ENGINEERING1: At Covina High, Project Lead the Way curriculum is incorporated into the school’s engineering career technical education pathway, which offers students the chance to apply what they learn through hands-on projects and competitions.

CVUSD_ENGINEERING2: At Traweek Middle School, students begin their engineering journey through introductory and advanced Project Lead the Way courses that introduce them to concepts including measurement, coding, and mechanisms.