Eastside Elementary School is part of Anderson Community Schools, located in Anderson, Indiana. The school serves approximately 581 students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, creating a vibrant and inclusive learning environment. Eastside Elementary is dedicated to academic excellence, student engagement, and nurturing the whole child.
Eastside Elementary School
What STEM means at Eastside Elementary
At Eastside Elementary School, STEM learning is a powerful expression of our commitment to love, kindness, and high expectations for every child. As a proud member of Anderson Community Schools, Eastside’s STEM direction supports our mission to inspire, encourage, and support all students as they grow academically, socially, and as responsible citizens.
Our STEM approach fosters a family of proactive learners and emerging leaders who are curious, compassionate, and engaged. Through hands-on, inquiry-based experiences, students explore real-world questions, think critically, and collaborate with others in a safe and supportive learning environment. STEM learning encourages innovation while reinforcing strong character, ethical decision-making, and respect for diverse perspectives.
Eastside Elementary believes that excellence and kindness go hand in hand. STEM experiences are designed to cultivate academic achievement while nurturing creativity, communication, and perseverance. Students are encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes, and develop confidence in their abilities as learners and problem solvers. These experiences support individualized learning and help students discover their unique strengths and potential.
Community and relationships are central to our STEM direction. Through meaningful connections with families and the broader community, learning extends beyond the classroom and becomes relevant to students’ lives. STEM learning at Eastside reflects the district’s commitment to community involvement, continuous improvement, and student-focused growth.
By building strong foundations in curiosity, collaboration, and lifelong learning, Eastside Elementary School’s STEM direction prepares students to continue their educational journey with confidence and purpose. Students leave Eastside ready to embrace innovation, achieve excellence, and contribute positively to their school, their community, and their future.
What makes our STEM program stand out
STEM Implementation K-12-to-Career
STEM is a pillar to the WD approach to education and preparing students as functioning members of the community by being exposed to the increasingly technology driven world. Between the three STEM labs, every student is exposed to the career opportunities available with STEM.
STEM Promotion
STEM Day and other events throughout the year expose students on what is to come as
their educational journey in the building continues. Elementary students are exposed to
opportunities at the high school, and high school students are exposed to industry
employers looking for talent or mentorship opportunities.
Diversified Options for all Secondary Ed Students, College and Workforce Bound
WD hosts several different NLPS pathways that allow students to explore their interests in
engineering, digital media, cybersecurity, information technology, business operations, and more. There is not another school of this size offering such a vast array of career exploration
opportunities.
Vex Go Robotics
Eastside Elementary participates in the Anderson Community Schools VEX GO competitive robotics league, in which the robotics team meets regularly after school to build, redesign, modify, drive, and program a VEX GO robot through a series of timed challenges to score points. The top competitors from each school progress to a district-wide VEX GO tournament in the spring, where they compete for prizes and trophies.
Engineering Design
Students at Eastside Elementary receive regular hands-on STEM education in the form of design projects and challenges. Modeled around the research-based 5E model of STEM education, students investigate a phenomenon, design a solution, test their solution, and iterate their solution design based on results and feedback. In addition to providing solid context for understanding of scientific concepts, these projects help reinforce the Engineering Design Process in our students.
School Garden Program
With a strong community partner in Bloom Madison County, Eastside Elementary is growing a love of nature and nutrition with their expanding school garden program. In addition to a variety of raised beds, plans are underway to expand the program with an outdoor greenhouse, chicken coop, and additional resources.
