The Eagles STEAM Academy
EAST LAKE ELEMENTARY
To see some of the incredible learning, innovation, and joy experienced this year, we invite you to explore our Eagle STEAM Academy (ESA) PhotoCircle using the link above at your leisure.
The Eagle STEAM Academy (ESA) is one of Orangeburg County School District’s elementary magnet academies, proudly housed at East Lake Elementary School. Guided by our mission to empower every student to maximize their full potential and our vision of developing confident leaders who can lead and compete in an ever-changing world, ESA provides a dynamic, future-focused learning experience for our scholars.
Our goal is to serve a cluster of third through fifth grade students through a rigorous, STEAM-based curriculum intentionally aligned with core content instruction. ESA scholars receive strong foundational instruction in their core classes while also engaging in embedded STEAM learning experiences that promote creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. Throughout the year, students were challenged to create, explore, and innovate across science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics, transforming curiosity into meaningful learning.
Using Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Launch as a key instructional resource, our scholars engaged in hands-on, inquiry-based learning aligned to the updated South Carolina Science Standards. PLTW allowed our students to move beyond theory and into authentic, real-world applications—meeting the needs of active learners and future leaders.
Through PLTW Launch, students became confident problem solvers and collaborators. Each unit began with an engaging eBook story that introduced a meaningful challenge, setting the stage for teamwork and innovation. Third grade scholars explored the Life Cycles and Survival unit, fourth graders investigated Weather: Factors and Hazards, and fifth graders completed the Robotics and Automation unit. Learning extended beyond the classroom as scholars participated in field experiences directly aligned to their PLTW units—including visits to Bee City, EdVenture, and the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville, South Carolina. These experiences reinforced the importance of perseverance, responsibility, and academic excellence, as students worked diligently to meet expectations and earn participation.
The overarching goal of the Eagle STEAM Academy is to continuously enrich active minds through the authentic implementation of accelerated instruction, enriched with meaningful, real-world experiences. At East Lake Elementary School, we believe that when students are empowered, challenged, and inspired, they soar—and ESA is a powerful example of that belief in action.
One Vision. One Voice. Eagles Soaring.