Gainesville’s Oak Hall Lower School received national recognition on Wednesday after receiving the 2024-25 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School award. 

The honor is given to a select number of elementary schools across the U.S. for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Launch, an elementary STEM curriculum.  

“We are proud to honor Oak Hall Lower School for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences through PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW president and CEO, in a press release. “This achievement celebrates their dedication to student achievement and their focus on empowering students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in school and a wide range of post-secondary opportunities.” 

PLTW is a national nonprofit organization aiming to create transformative learning experiences and empower pre-K through 12th-grade students by cultivating applicable knowledge and skills for future careers, including STEM knowledge and credential preparation. 

With more than 116,000 trained teachers in over 12,200 schools across all 50 states, PLTW programs like PLTW Launch seek to develop interest in STEM subjects through teamwork activities like designing a car safety belt or creating digital animations inspired by students’ own short stories. 

To be eligible for the PLTW Distinguished School recognition, Oak Hall—an independent, college preparatory school for pre-K through 12th grade students—had to have more than 75% of its student body participating in the program and offer at least one PLTW Launch module for each grade level during the 2023-24 school year, according to the release. 

“PLTW Launch has empowered our Lower School students to explore real-world challenges through STEM in ways that are both accessible and inspiring,” said Dr. James Hutchins, Head of School at Oak Hall. “We’re proud to be part of a program that cultivates critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.”