Rochester STEM Academy Somali Poets

The mission of Rochester STEM Academy (RSA) is to provide a highly supportive learning environment for minority, immigrant, and other students currently underserved in traditional area high schools and greatly underrepresented in Rochester’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) industries through a challenging program that emphasizes creativity, accountability, ongoing assessments, college-preparation, and high academic achievement.

Located in a city known for its medical and technology industries, RSA is among the very first STEM high schools in Minnesota. RSA creates multiple community partnerships to expose its students to STEM through internships, apprenticeships, mentorship, field trips, specialized programming, enrichment, and by continually bringing specialists working in STEM fields into its classrooms. This will ensure that minority children, including East African, Hmong, and Hispanic immigrants, will acquire the skills, knowledge-base, educational preparation, and motivation required to succeed in an increasingly technological world. At the same time, RSA’s goal of continually immersing its students within a college-focused culture will support their embarking in post-secondary studies. In these ways, RSA’s programming will replicate the outstanding success of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and other STEM-focused secondary schools that have already garnered national attention.