WISE (Women in Science & Engineering)

When Westover introduced the WISE program back in 1992, it was revolutionary: Women in Science and Engineering?

Today, that question has been replaced with an exclamation: I want to make that my future career! Young women from all over the world are attracted to Westover because of our WISE program and its emphasis on science, computer science, applied math, and engineering. Pre-eminent universities such as Case Western Reserve, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Carnegie Mellon, University of Pennsylvania, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) - our co-collaborator in the development of WISE - all want to know when our students are ready to apply.

This advanced, extracurricular engineering and science program is open to interested 9th and 10th graders by application. The program introduces students to engineering design principles and creative thinking and diagnostic techniques and offers a variety of engineering and science electives aimed at preparing them for a future career in science and engineering. Seniors also perform an Independent Research Project in the field of their choice.

In 2005-06, The National Association of Independent Schools presented Westover with a Leading Edge Award for Curriculum innovation for the WISE Program.

WISE students often take the AP exam in Computer Science and do exceptionally well. In 2008, at the 15th Annual Connecticut High School Computer Science Contest, sponsored by General Electric, a Westover junior was the highest placing girl and the only girl in the top 10. We're proud to be among the relative handful of young women in the competition each year.

 And we look forward to the day when our presence isn't as remarkable as our presentation.

Click here to download an application for the WISE program.

Click here to view a slideshow of the WISE Great Cardboard and Duct Tape Student Boat Race  

Read about the Great Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat Race  (see photo above)

Click here to view graphs of the daily, weekly and total energy generated by solar panels on the roof of Westover's Performing Arts Center. Students in the WISE  Alternative Energy Engineering course took a field trip to the 2001 Company that installed the solar panels.