Students experiment with science at Charlottesville City Schools’ STEMFest this April. Photo by Andrew Shurtleff. Buford students share their BioBot projects with one another as part of the school’s UVA Innovation Hub. Photo by Amanda Korman.

Two science programs at Charlottesville City Schools are being recognized as leading models of STEM education in Virginia.

The Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition has given its “Programs That Work” award to Charlottesville both for its iSTEM Program serving preK-grade 4 students at all Charlottesville elementary schools and its UVA Innovation Hub at Buford Middle School. 

The Programs That Work distinction recognizes exemplary mathematics, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs for which there is evidence of a positive impact on student or teacher learning.

“These two recognitions reflect our division-wide commitment to transforming science instruction and expanding access to high-quality, future-ready STEM learning,” said Dr. Tonya Coffey, Coordinator of Science and Innovation for Charlottesville City Schools.

Both programs were honored at the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition’s Programs That Work Award Ceremony on May 6 at Reynolds Community College in Richmond. 

The iSTEM PreK–4 program provides students at all Charlottesville elementary schools with hands-on science, engineering, and computer science experiences embedded into the elementary school day. With an emphasis on curiosity, collaboration, and real-world problem solving, the program fosters early STEM identity while connecting classroom learning to future careers.

The UVA Innovation Hub, a lab school initiative developed in partnership with the University of Virginia, is fully embedded within students’ regular science classes at Buford Middle School (soon to be Charlottesville Middle School). Through interdisciplinary, project-based learning, students explore computational thinking, design challenges, and community-connected STEM experiences — all grounded in Virginia’s science standards.