New middle school has opened its doors in Madera

MADERA, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Sherman Thomas Stem Academy is open to sixth through eighth graders and it's the only one of its kind in the area.

School started in August for the 75 students but the building and grounds have just recently been completed.

The principal of the new charter school says along with focusing on technology and science they are also getting students interested in going to college.

Stem Academy Principal, Jaime Brock said, "A lot of our students are first-generation college students, and we want to demystify the mystery of going to college, so we want to get kids on the college campuses and start to see themselves there. As far as the stem education piece, we feel it's important because it's more than tech, it is about a way of learning and problem-solving."

Brock says kids in the program will visit nine different colleges before they start high school.