Maker Spaces in Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District

Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (SOCSD) has established a place for excellence, called Maker Spaces, within each of their schools. Maker Spaces are collaborative workplaces that facilitate student-centered exploration through a variety of low-tech and high-tech hands-on experiences. These spaces allow for peer collaboration and encourage building relationships while working and learning together.

From green screens for student productions, to virtual goggles that take you on an excellent adventure to 3D printer pens for experimentations, these 21st century learning environments fuel imagination and creativity while engaging students as critical thinkers, collabo- rators and problem solvers.

SOCSD was one of fifteen Mississippi school districts to be selected through a competitive application process by the Mississippi State Board of Education to receive funding for a K-8 STEM Initiative Enhancement Project Grant. The $120,000 grant enabled SOCSD to implement initial Maker Spaces at four campuses.

Mississippi’s National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished Schools for 2025

The State Board of Education honored Mississippi’s National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished Schools for 2025. The two schools are W.J. Quarles Elementary School in the Long Beach School District and Northside Elementary School in the Clinton Public School District. W.J. Quarles Elementary was chosen for demonstrating exceptional student performance for two consecutive years. Northside Elementary School was chosen for closing the achievement gap between student groups. Each year, MDE’s Office of Federal Programs nominates two schools that meet or exceed the Distinguished School award criteria. Both schools were recognized for successfully using its ESEA federal funds to improve educational outcomes for all students.