Alter High School will join other private schools in the area when it expands its science, technology, engineering and math curriculum in the fall of 2013.

The Catholic institution of 680 students in grades nine through 12 will seek certification from Project Lead The Way, a leading provider of STEM coursework across the country.

“We’ve done inquiry-based learning and teaching for years, but not being affiliated with a nationally known provider like PLTW doesn’t allow students to compete for certain college admissions, scholarships or employment,” principal Lourdes Lambert said. “The national push for STEM is resulting in designated scholarships.”

The new classes offered will include Principles of Engineering and Human Body Systems, for upperclassmen, and Statistics, Trigonometry and College Algebra. Future additions may include Introduction to Engineering Design. Dual credit will be sought with area colleges.

“The biggest challenge has been the cost of acquiring resources to implement the program,” Lambert said.

Primary expenses will be for teacher training, new technology, software and classroom equipment. Science department chair Barb Groene and nine other faculty members attended the Ohio STEM Conference in November. They will begin focused training this summer.

Seed funds will come from the Starry, Starry Knight Gala that kicked off Alter’s 50th anniversary celebration in September 2012.

Development director John Patterson said almost $200,000 has been set aside for STEM and two other school projects — incorporating the principles of “professional learning communities” into Alter’s mission and creating a prayer garden in front of the school, which is located on East David Road.

Certification will be a five-year process.

Other parochial and private schools in the Dayton area have expanded their focus on STEM curriculum.

The Dayton Regional STEM School, which opened in 2009, is also located in Kettering.

Carroll High School, in Riverside, and Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton were among five winners of the Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education in 2011. Carroll and Lehman High School in Sidney were among 12 top-ranked schools in 2012.

Patterson said that while there is “a push for schools throughout the region to do this, nothing specific has been mandated by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.”

Lambert said Alter’s priorities continue to be “our students, their faith and preparedness for the real world.”