E-STEM Program

Inspiring a Life-Long Love of STEM Learning

At Ed White and Walter Hall E-STEM Magnet Schools, all students participate in a highly enriched curriculum that focuses on the integration of science, technology, engineering, and math starting in kindergarten through fifth grade. The District believes the definition of a STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that removes the traditional barriers separating the four disciplines and integrates them into real-world, rigorous, and relevant learning experiences for students. (Vasquez, Sneider, and Comer, 2013)

Application for Incoming Kindergarten–Fifth Grade Families

Ed White and Walter Hall E-STEM Magnet Schools welcome students from outside their attendance zones through a single enrollment pathway. Families may request a school transfer to join the E-STEM program by submitting an online application through our secure SchoolMint platform. The application for the 2026-2027 school year closed on January 23, 2026. Parents will be notified of acceptance and available seats on April 10^th, 2026.

Where Curiosity Meets Real-World Learning

The E-STEM Magnet program is ideal for families who value hands-on learning and want their child immersed in science, technology, engineering, and math every day. Students who thrive in the program are curious, enjoy solving real-world problems, and like collaborating and sharing ideas.

Families and students who share an interest in STEM learning are best positioned for long-term success, and students are expected to remain in the program throughout their elementary years.

Enrollment in the E-STEM Magnet School does not guarantee placement in the Science Magnet Program at Brookside or Seabrook Intermediate.

Kindergarten families also benefit from a sibling priority: younger siblings are automatically eligible for E-STEM when they enter kindergarten, pending parent notification and a transfer request. This priority applies only to kindergarten admissions.

E-STEM Magnet Curriculum

All E-STEM students follow the Clear Creek ISD curriculum based on state TEKS standards, with STEM practices infused into all subjects to promote critical thinking and real-world problem solving. Learning is connected to science and engineering through engaging, hands-on lessons.

Students also participate in teacher-guided, student-led explorations that extend the curriculum and encourage open-ended problem solving.

E-STEM Block, The Engineering Lab
Extra Enrichment Opportunities

E-STEM Block, The Engineering Lab

The E-STEM Block is unique to the curriculum at Ed White and Walter Hall elementary schools. Once every nine weeks, each grade level comes to the engineering lab for a two to five-day unit. Students are presented a topic or prompt and study it in-depth during the block. They design a solution to the prompt using the following engineering design process:

Ask

At the beginning of the lab, students are asked a question that aligns with science TEKS. They are asked to identify a problem and see how others might have responded to a similar situation.

imagine

Students then work independently or in small teams to imagine a solution to the prompt. They might be asked "What are some solutions to the question?" and "Which is the best solution for the question?"

Plan

Using their journals, students draw a diagram of their solution/idea and list out the materials they need to execute their plan.

Create

During the Create stage, students follow their diagram and build their solutions. Once assembled, they are asked to test it.

Improve

Did their solution work the first time? Do they need to re-engineer a solution and re-test it? In this phase, students test, build, and test again to produce a working solution to the prompt.

Communication

With a working solution, students share their projects with the classroom in verbal or visual presentations.

In kindergarten, this engineering process takes about one to two days at the start of the school year and advances to three to four days as the year progresses. By fourth grade, the engineering process has evolved to a week-long lab. Each component of the process is expanded upon: Ask, Imagine, and Plan stages are conducted on Monday and Tuesday; Create and Improve activities are completed on Wednesday and Thursday; by Friday students are presenting to their class using PowerPoint presentations.

Extra Enrichment Opportunities

Students are taught using best practices and scientific inquiry. In addition to the regular CCISD curriculum, E-STEM students will experience the following:

Outside field trips that deepen the understanding of scientific concepts, as well as experience guest speakers who are experts in their fields relaying topics presented in the engineering lab.
Participation in the E-STEM Block engineering lab, as well as science labs.
Use of technology and applications appropriate for the science/math curriculum including learning how to make a PowerPoint presentation, taking pictures and videos, and sharing as appropriate.
Availability to participate in the VEX Robotics club and other related clubs after school.
Learn how to conduct research to answer scientific questions and real-world problem-solving in the community.
Develop important "soft skills" including critical thinking, real-world problem solving, and a growth mindset.
Access to amazing Makerspace experiences in the libraries that offer a creative place to explore hands-on activities like Raspberry Pi, Lego Robotics, and 3-D printing.

Transportation

Clear Creek ISD does not provide transportation for students not zoned to the E-STEM Magnet campuses. Non-zoned families are responsible for drop-off and pick-up of their students at the applicable times via the car rider line.

Transportation is provided for the zoned families living within the Ed White and Walter Hall boundaries. For more information about transportation services see Bus Transportation.

School starts at 7:55 a.m. Students riding the bus are released at 3:15 p.m. Car rider students are released at 3:20 p.m.

World-Class Webinar Series: E-STEM Magnet Program

Learn more about the E-STEM Magnet experience by watching our latest webinar episode. This session gives families an inside look at how E-STEM learning comes to life on our campuses and the unique engineering and design opportunities offered at Ed White and Walter Hall E-STEM Magnet Schools.

Our team walks viewers through the curriculum, application processes, and what families can expect when joining the E-STEM community.

Learn more about CCISD World-Class Programs

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Continued Assessment for the Program: E-STEM students are assessed using the same assessment measures as all CCISD students. This includes the Benchmark Assessment System (BAS), Developmental Reading Assessment and Observation Survey (DRA), standardized tests (STAAR), Curriculum-Based Assessments (CBA), curriculum benchmarks, and other formative assessments.

Please note that, in accordance with CCISD policy, a student transfer may be revoked whenever the principal establishes that a student has been truant, fails to maintain satisfactory conduct, fails to maintain passing grades and/or fails to be punctual.

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