School of Science and Engineering

School of Science and Engineering Magnet (SEM)
Location
1201 E. Eighth St.
Dallas, TX 75203
Information
Type public, secondary, magnet
Motto "Where The Possibilities Are Limitless"
School district Dallas Independent School District
Principal Jovan Carisa Wells
Grades 9-12
Number of students 383
Color(s) Maroon and White
Mascot Eagle
Website Science and Engineering Website

The School of Science and Engineering Magnet at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center (known as the School of Science and Engineering or SEM) is located at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center, home of six magnet high schools in the Dallas Independent School District. SEM's mascot is the eagle, and its school colors are maroon and white. Jovan Carisa Wells is serving as principal following the sudden retirement of the former principal Richard White for health reasons.

Contents

Academic Activities

SEM offers many Mathematics and Science courses, from Algebra II to AP Calculus BC to AP Statistics. Many Science courses are also offered from the basics of Pre-AP Biology to higher level courses such as Physics C and Chemistry which are taken as Advanced Placement courses allowing the student chances to earn college credit. Tech courses that instruct students in Computer Science concepts and the Java (programming language) are also available. SEM stresses a philosophy of hands-on science education. It is the only high school in the nation to offer concurrent lab classes whose students are exposed to college level laboratory experience along with their AP Math/Science curriculum.

Prestige

In 2011, SEM was ranked the number 1 high school in America by the Washington Post[1]. The school was also ranked number 1 in the Newsweek list of America's Best High Schools[2].

In both 2005[3] & 2011[4], SEM has received the Blue Ribbon School award by the U.S. Department of Education.

SEM was ranked as second best high school in the United States in 2007 according to the survey "The 1200 Best Public High Schools in the USA" , it was eighth in 2006 and sixth in 2005. In 2007, SEM was ranked as the 18th best public high school in America by US News and World Report [5].

The College Board announced that SEM is number 1 in the world for passing minorities in Calculus AB and number one in the United States for passing Hispanics in Computer Science. In 2006, SEM was visited by President George W. Bush for excellence in education and the school's philosophy of emphasising math and science[6][7], something he stressed in his 2006 State of the Union address. The school consistently ranks number one in D Magazine's Best Public High Schools in Dallas and has been named the Academic UIL District Champion for District 9-5A and 11-5A in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

SEM graduates have gained acceptance to and have attended many prestigious schools including: St. Edward's University, University of Dallas, Louisiana State University, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Stanford University, the University of Notre Dame, Duke University, Yale University, Harvard University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wellesley College, Vanderbilt University, Rice University,the University of Oklahoma, Johns Hopkins University,the United States Military Academies, Emory University, California Institute of Technology, Harvey Mudd College, Reed College, Southern Methodist University, University of California-Berkley, University of Southern California, Morehouse College, Tulane University, and Kettering University.

Extracurricular activities

SEM does not offer sports (due to rules and regulations involving magnet schools-though students may play at their home high schools), but it does provide a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including:

Aerospace Club Academic Decathlon "Big D" Marching Band
UIL Calculator Team UIL Number Sense Team Choir
Chess Club UIL Computer Science Team UIL Current Issues & Events Team
French Club Italian Club UIL Journalism Team
Latin Club UIL Literary Criticism UIL Math Team
National Honor Society National Latin Honor Society UIL One Act Play
Orchestra UIL Science Team UIL Spelling Team

SEM won the AAAAA individual UIL Computer Science event at the UIL State competition in Austin, Texas in 2001, and also won the AAAAA team UIL Computer Science competition in both 2000 and 2001.

References

  1. ^ http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge
  2. ^ http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/06/19/the-best-high-schools-in-america.html
  3. ^ http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf
  4. ^ http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2011/high-schools.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2007/11/29/gold-medal-schools.html
  6. ^ http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060203-13.html
  7. ^ http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_033180351.html President Bush Heads To North Texas School

External links

Dallas Independent School District
High schools … full list Bryan Adams | Adamson | Carter | Conrad | Hillcrest | Jefferson | Kimball | Lincoln | Madison | Molina | North Dallas | Pinkston | Roosevelt | Samuell | Seagoville | Skyline | South Oak Cliff | Spruce | Sunset | Wilmer-Hutchins | W. T. White | Wilson
Middle schools … full list Anderson | Hill | Marsh | Quintanilla
Elementary schools … full list Hooe | Lakewood | Milam | Preston Hollow
Magnet schools Townview magnets: Government, Law, & Law Enforcement | Science and Engineering Magnet | Talented & Gifted | Business and Management | Education and Social Services | Health Professions
Other High Schools: Washington HS for Performing and Visual Arts | Gilliam Collegiate Academy | Lincoln Humanities/Communications Magnet | Skyline | Smith New Tech
Middle/High: Obama Male | Rangel Young Women's | PreK-8: Dealey Montessori | Stone Montessori | 4-8: Travis Academy/Vanguard