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QUEST and AOIT

Quality Education in Science and Technology (QUEST)
Academy of Information Technology (AOIT)

The QUEST/AOIT program began in 1991 with a target population of 50 sixth-grade African American males. A major objective of the program is to provide under-represented groups who have not gained admission into the Science and Technology program at Eleanor Roosevelt an opportunity to be successful in a rigorous math and science curriculum. The program currently serves more than 400 students in grades 7-12. Eleanor Roosevelt High School is a comprehensive high school, as well as a Science and Technology Center. The school has a population of more than 2,800 students. Prince George's County Public School System, with a student population of more than 127,000 is the 17th largest school system in the nation.

Admission Policy

Admission to the QUEST/AOIT Program is highly competitive. More than 250 students apply for 64 seats. Ninth grade students must complete a rigorous two-week summer program to be admitted into the program. To apply for the program please submit an application before the deadline.

Program

The QUEST/AOIT program is a highly structured four-year academic program. Of twenty-eight possible credits, a student is required to obtain a minimum of 12 credits in specific mathematics, pre-engineering, technology, science, and research courses. In grades nine and ten, the program consists of common experience courses for all students. In grades eleven and twelve, each student selects course work from one of four focus areas. Students are expected to be enrolled in a full schedule of seven classes per day during the entire four-year program. External experiences are possible and encouraged, but must be a direct extension of, or enrichment of, the QUEST/AOIT Program. Seniors complete a research project, similar to a master's thesis. Many students conduct their research at prestigious facilities in the Washington D.C. area, such as the National Institutes of Health, the University of Maryland, The Catholic University of America, and NASA.

Since the first QUEST/AOIT class of 1997, one hundred percent of the students who completed the QUEST/AOIT program entered a four-year school of higher education.

The program was expanded to include females and other minorities. QUEST consists of a two-week summer program, fall and spring classroom activities, and tutoring during the school year. The major focus of the program is in two phases.

	to foster interest in science through hands-on laboratory experiences;
	enhance students' math skills;
	monitor academic progress of participants throughout the year;
	provide rigorous instruction in science and math.

Summer Program

The program receives more than 600 applications from elementary and middle school students each year to participate in the summer program. There are presently 225 students participating in the summer program. Of that number, more than 160 middle school students participate in the fall and spring sessions. The summer program is a major component of the QUEST program.

The overall objectives of the program are to:

	provide academic support;
	increase critical thinking skills in English, math, science and engineering;
	get students excited about Science and Technology through a hands-on approach;
	assist students and parents with future educational planning;
	discuss the perceptions of minorities outside of Roosevelt who may feel that a career in Science and Technology is unobtainable;
	monitor academic progress;
	increase the number of minorities who take the S/T entrance exam.

The following strategies are used during the summer.

Incoming Seventh-Grade Students

	assess math and verbal skills of each participant;
	develop math and verbal skills, utilizing computer software, classroom instructional and game activities;
	Provide participants with an analysis of strengths and weaknesses in both math and verbal areas;
	provide students with experiences to develop computer literacy skills;
	provide students with hands-on laboratory experiences that would be used to explore biology and chemistry;
	provide the students with extensive use of the computer software;
	develop effective study habits.

Incoming Eighth-Grade Students

	access academic performance by reviewing report cards;
	retest both math and verbal skills to assess improvements;
	reinforce and develop math skills utilizing computer software, classroom instructions and game activities;
	utilize computers to graph data collected from a science lab;
	provide students with hands-on laboratory activities in biology and chemistry that would require collection and analysis of data;
	reinforce study skills development;
	conduct Saturday workshops in the fall in order to prepare participants for the Science and Technology entrance exam.

QUEST High School Component

The program focuses on computer technology, as suggested by its name, Academy of Information Technology. In 1999, Eleanor Roosevelt High School was one of twelve high schools selected nationwide to pilot this type of academy. The goal of this curriculum offered in grades 9-12, is to give students a broad perspective on technology and its applications, recognizing that students will use technology in various disciplines during college and in their careers. Currently, there are more than 230 students in the Academy of Information Technology. The graduating class of 2005 had mean grade point average of 3.3 and a mean SAT score of 1140. One hundred percent of the students entered college in the fall of 2005, several on full scholarships.

Internship Application

Applications for senior year internships are available for completion (see links below). Your son or daughter will be invited to an internship orientation. Internship sites, student and mentor requirements, and a course syllabus will be distributed. All applications must be typed. Please review the information with your son or daughter. Applications are due Monday, February 5, 2007.