STEM Coding Lab / Will Allen Foundation Bridge Middle School STEM Gap

Clairton City School District (CCSD), STEM Coding Lab (SCL), and the Will Allen Foundation have launched a strategic partnership to bring  comprehensive STEM education to Clairton Middle School. Made possible by the Eden Hall Foundation, this initiative supports SCL and WAF’s expansion into grades 6th-8th and ensures a continuous 4-year programming pipeline for students in grades 1st-5th.

STEM Coding Lab was awarded a 4-year grant from the Eden Hall Foundation for this collaborative effort between the two organizations. By bridging the gap between elementary and high school, the program ensures students receive consistent computer science (CS) and STEM instruction from 1st-8th grade, providing the essential prerequisites for high school success and beyond.

A Unified Vision for Student Success

Recognizing a critical void in middle school STEM offerings, CCSD Superintendent Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas united two longtime collaborators—STEM Coding Lab and the Will Allen  Foundation —to create a seamless educational continuum. Through this grant, SCL will provide 38 computer science classes per week to youth grades 1st-8th and WAF will provide 9  computer science classes per week to grades 6th-8th. Additionally, WAF will provide additional classes to 3rd-5th graders and 9th-12th grade CCSD students, complimenting the grant funded  programming to ensure that CCSD has a continuum of STEM education from 1st-12th grade.

“STEM Coding Lab and the Will Allen Foundation are providing more than just a STEM curriculum,” said Dr. Allen-Thomas. “We are pairing our CCSD teachers with collaborating STEM educators so our team is learning alongside our students. It’s hands-on, collaborative, and develops critical thinking skills. We are creating thinkers of the world—people who can be part of a solution to a problem.”

Holistic Support and Career Readiness

The partnership leverages the unique strengths of the Will Allen Foundation, which provides mentorship, scholarships, and basic-needs initiatives to ensure students are positioned to thrive. “Our partnership with STEM Coding Lab has strengthened the work we are doing in Clairton. What makes this partnership high impact is that STEM programming for all grade levels fits into  the broader support that Will Allen Foundation provides, including after-school and summer  programs, career guidance, scholarships, and basic-needs initiatives addressing food insecurity and the need for hygiene products,” says Will Allen Foundation CEO, Jessica Marsh. “When students are supported in multiple ways, they are better positioned to thrive. We are grateful for 
STEM Coding Lab’s partnership and excited about the potential to expand this work together to serve other districts in the future.”

Economic Impact and Early Intervention

With 92% of modern jobs requiring digital skills and STEM careers averaging salaries over $100,000, early exposure is vital for economic mobility. Currently, 93.8% of CCSD students 
qualify for Title I programs; this initiative aims to break cycles of poverty by providing direct pathways to high-earning fields.

"Partnerships are essential to the impact community organizations and schools can have on a student's trajectory. By breaking down the institutional divide, our three organizations have united to prioritize what matters most: ensuring every child has the access and opportunities they need to thrive in the future," said Melissa Fuller, CEO of STEM Coding Lab.

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