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Our Commitments

STEAM

robotics competition
two students working on project

At Salem Academy, we are committed to providing a well-rounded, interdisciplinary and forward-thinking education, hence STEAM is at the heart of our curriculum.

STEAM is an educational approach that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics to guide student inquiry. This approach enhances dialogue and critical thinking, affording students the skills to take thoughtful risks, persist in problem-solving, and work through a creative process. This interdisciplinary thinking is needed to be innovators, educators, learners, and leaders of the 21st century.  

STEAM is in demand across the world, the United States, and here in North Carolina. As the nation’s only all-girls boarding and day high school with a STEAM focus located on a college campus, Salem Academy has stepped up to meet that demand. We offer interdisciplinary holistic coursework in the STEAM areas such as robotics and coding as well as humanities and the arts.

What is STEAM?

At Salem Academy, we are committed to providing a well-rounded, interdisciplinary and forward-thinking education, hence STEAM is at the heart of our curriculum.

students collaborating on project

STEAM Educational Approach

STEAM is an educational approach that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics to guide student inquiry. This approach enhances dialogue and critical thinking, affording students the skills to take thoughtful risks, persist in problem-solving, and work through a creative process. This interdisciplinary thinking is needed to be innovators, educators, learners, and leaders of the 21st century.

robotics competition

STEAM is In Demand

STEAM is in demand across the world, the United States, and here in North Carolina. As the nation’s only all-girls boarding and day high school with a STEAM focus located on a college campus, Salem Academy has stepped up to meet that demand. We offer interdisciplinary holistic coursework in the STEAM areas such as robotics and coding as well as humanities and the arts.

students coloring

STEAM Curricula at Salem Academy

In STEAM curricula at Salem Academy, students leverage both hard and soft skills to solve problems. Academy students are free to question, create, and think for themselves. Along the way, they learn to collaborate with others, design solutions, and adapt to the ever-changing world around them.

actresses during a play

Why a Focus on STEAM Matters

Women are underrepresented in STEM-related careers. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women make up approximately 34% of the workforce in STEM fields. 

But Salem is changing that—and shattering stereotypes along the way by adding the power of the Arts to STEM. The arts component of STEAM fosters creativity and encourages students to think outside the box. It provides a valuable balance to the analytical thinking required in science and technology fields.

robotics competition teams together for a photo in gym

The Importance More Girls and Women in STEAM

At Salem Academy, we believe that our graduates leave with the skills and interest needed to be successful in the field of their choice – be it STEM or STEAM. 

Collaboration is a fundamental aspect of STEAM curriculum. Students work in teams to solve complex problems of practical relevance. This helps them see the direct impact of their learning by simulating the collaborative nature of a professional environments. Salem Academy graduates go on to fields such as STEM, where they are close the gender gap, become role models for the future, and to motivate creativity inside STEAM fields to innovate for the future.

Our families and students love STEAM

93%

Of current families highly value the STEAM offering.

91%

Of prospective Salem families say they are looking for a school that has a STEAM focus
Ava Heinen A'20
Charlotte Dorn
Jeanine Ikekhua A'20
jordan Duncan A'20
Lalitha Vadlamani-Simmers A'87, MD

STEAM Stories

Ava Heinen A'20

Ava Heinen A'20

“Because of the smaller class size, we get a much deeper connection with our teachers. We know each other as human beings, which makes it easier to ask questions and get help … I struggled academically in public school. I wasn’t getting great grades and I didn’t really care. Now, I care and I’m driven to do well. Once I got my first A on a test at Salem (and it took me a while) I felt incredible. I studied and it paid off – it’s a feeling I wanted to continue.”

Charlotte Dorn

Charlotte Dorn A’18

Charlotte Dorn was a student at Salem Academy from 2014-2018. She served as president of her class for three years and was a standout player for the Salem Sabers soccer team where she served as captain. She was a leader of the Academy’s award-winning Robotics Team, and she was a National Merit Scholarship finalist. As...
Jeanine Ikekhua A'20

Jeanine Ikekhua A'20

“My favorite part about being a boarding student is the fact that I have some independence. I can go downtown with my friends to have dinner. Plus, we get really close because we’re together all the time. The friends I’ve made here will be my friends for life.”

jordan Duncan A'20

Jordan Duncan A'20

“Salem is helping me be the person I want to be. Because Salem is diverse, I was able to break out of my American bubble and see the world as a whole. I’m a much more globally aware citizen and now I can talk to people from all over the world.”

Lalitha Vadlamani-Simmers A'87, MD

Lalitha Vadlamani-Simmers A'87, MD

“Of all my educational experiences, Salem Academy was the most pivotal in terms of making me who I am. It taught me how to handle challenges and it solidified my independence. At the same time, Salem gave me a sense of home and made me part of a family-like community.”

Ava Heinen A'20
Charlotte Dorn
Jeanine Ikekhua A'20
jordan Duncan A'20
Lalitha Vadlamani-Simmers A'87, MD

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