Harmony receives another Distinguished School honor

The recognition keeps coming for Harmony Magnet Academy.

The latest honor the school has received was being named as a 2021-2022 Project Lead the Way Distinguished School.

Project Lead the Way is an organization that helps schools develop pathways and academies that provide more hands-on classroom instruction at the K-12 level. Harmony has been a PLTW school since 2008.

“This achievement is grounded in our commitment to helping students own their education by increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in our PLTW programs,” Harmony principal Jeff Brown said. “We are extremely proud to earn this award from an organization that empowers millions of students across the U.S. to unlock their potential and success in college, career, and beyond.”

Harmony has had more than 700 graduates who have participated in PLTW programs in grades 9-12. Students participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM, projects as part of the program designed to give them real-world knowledge and skills.

Since Harmony has implemented PLTW programs, 93 percent of Harmony students have gone on to postsecondary programs at the two-year and four-year college and university level and that’s not including those who entered the military or went to a technical school.

“The PLTW curriculum has been a game changer,” Browns said. The

school’s Academy of Engineering Pathway has benefited form the hands-on, project approach, Brown added.

“Students who return to HMA often comment that the program at Harmony is up to par with their junior year of college,” he said. “We are grateful to (Porterville Unified School District) and our advisory boards to have the opportunity to implement industry standards at the highest level.”

Harmony was also recently again rated as the best high school in Tulare County by U.S. News and World Report. In addition the school was recognized with the 2022 California Pivotal Practice, CAPP, Award for how it dealt with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harmony’s Academy of Engineering and Academy of Performing Arts have also been recognized as Distinguished Academies by Naf.org, a national network of education, business and community leaders that works with districts in establishing academies with a goal to make students college and career ready.