EduCATE Schools

Lincoln Middle School serves a diverse population of students in grades 7–8 in Kearny, NJ, and is committed to providing meaningful, interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect real-world issues to classroom instruction. Participants will develop skills to enhance their data literacy through hands-on investigations, data collection, analysis, and problem-solving activities related to environmental and community topics. The project will take place both formally during the school day and informally after the school day, integrating learning across math, science, and elective courses, allowing students to collaborate, think critically, and apply their learning in authentic ways with a mindset of climate resilience.

The Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology is a public high school in Newark, New Jersey, serving a diverse student population in grades 9–12, with many students from historically underrepresented urban communities. This project will primarily engage high school students through the school’s research club, Neural Circuits: Research and Innovation Society, with opportunities for integration into STEM and science-related coursework where appropriate. Participating students will include those interested in environmental science, public health, mathematics, and data analysis, with a focus on building research skills while investigating real-world air quality issues that directly impact their communities (member of Neural Circuits). Through both afterschool research activities and potential classroom connections, students will develop scientific literacy, data collection experience, and environmental justice awareness.

Union Hill Middle School serves 7th- and 8th-grade students in Union City, New Jersey. In 2026, the school was awarded the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award in recognition of its excellence as an urban school that provides high-quality and diverse educational opportunities. Union Hill offers a wide range of afterschool programs, including scientific research club, 3-D printing, drum line, band, choir, and, most recently, a partnership with Rutgers 4-H that teaches Junior Honor Society students about environmental stewardship through composting. Through the EduCATE partnership, Union Hill looks forward to inviting inducted 7th- and 8th-grade Junior Honor Society students to participate in the EduCATE environmental initiative during weekly afterschool sessions.

William L.Dickinson High School is the Academy of The Sciences. We pride ourselves on our diversity and serve our 9th through 12th grade populations. The Environmental Science Curriculum contains academic standards that focus on climate change, which is important so that all students will have an understanding of the climate system, including the natural and human-caused factors that affect it. The goal of the students in the EduCATE (Education, Climate Awareness, Training, and Engagement) program, within our classes and after school, is to provide digital carbon footprint workshops in which students teach their peers about the effects of their digital carbon footprint on climate change. It teaches them ways to decrease their carbon footprint daily.

“Academy I Middle School is excited to participate in the EduCATE Grant as an opportunity to provide students with engaging, hands-on experiences that extend learning beyond the traditional classroom. As an application-based school serving grades 6–8 through the Accelerated and Enrichment Program (AEP), Academy I offers a challenging academic environment where students engage in accelerated coursework and enrichment opportunities designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and high-level thinking. Academy I students are highly motivated, thrive on challenge, and enjoy healthy competition, making them especially well-suited for collaborative, inquiry-based learning experiences connected to this initiative.

The mission of Academy I is to develop the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally—by providing meaningful experiences that empower students to become independent thinkers, innovative problem solvers, and active participants in their school and future communities. Students are intellectually curious and accustomed to rigorous academic expectations that emphasize collaboration, creativity, and leadership. Participation in the EduCATE Grant will allow students to deepen their learning through authentic, real-world problem solving while further strengthening the confidence, communication skills, and leadership qualities that define the Academy I experience.”

Infinity Institute’s participation in the EduCATE Grant represents an exciting opportunity to further enrich an already high-achieving and academically rigorous school community through authentic, real-world learning experiences. Infinity Institute is a public school located in Jersey City, NJ, in a large city setting, serving about 250 students in grades 6–12. The school demonstrates exceptional academic performance, with 98% of students scoring at or above the proficient level in math and 97% scoring at or above that level in reading, and it has been ranked the number one middle school in New Jersey according to U.S. News & World Report. As a school with a strong focus on STEM, inquiry-based instruction, and high academic expectations, Infinity Institute is well-positioned to engage students in meaningful environmental and civic learning connected to coastal resilience and climate education. Through this multi-year partnership with Rutgers University 4-H and a NOAA-related initiative, students will have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists, graduate students, and educators to explore real-world environmental challenges and develop impactful solutions for their communities. The district is enthusiastic about Infinity Institute’s participation and the ways in which this work will further strengthen student leadership, amplify student voice, and expand innovative, hands-on learning experiences.