Courses
Project Lead The Way
Introduction to Engineering Design
Principles of Engineering
AP Computer Science Principles
Engineering Design and Development
PLTW Engineering empowers students to step into the role of an engineer, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and make the leap from dreamers to doers. The program’ s courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.
Principles of Engineering
AP Computer Science Principles
Engineering Design and Development
PLTW Engineering empowers students to step into the role of an engineer, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and make the leap from dreamers to doers. The program’ s courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.
Robotics Programming and Design
Robotics
Programming and Design is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of
robotics programming. Students will design, build, and program a robot that can
complete specified tasks. They will learn the fundamentals of the RobotC
programming language to develop high quality, working software that solves real
problems.
Advanced Robotics Programming and Design uses a competition format to teach scientific method and engineering design. In the fall and early spring, students enrolled in this course prepare for SkillsUSA and VEX robotics competitions by designing, building, and programming a robot that can complete specified tasks. Students use a variety of tools to build the robot and must document their work with an array of computer skills including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office, Prezi, EasyC and RobotC. Tasks change from year to year and students may take this course more than once.
Advanced Robotics Programming and Design uses a competition format to teach scientific method and engineering design. In the fall and early spring, students enrolled in this course prepare for SkillsUSA and VEX robotics competitions by designing, building, and programming a robot that can complete specified tasks. Students use a variety of tools to build the robot and must document their work with an array of computer skills including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office, Prezi, EasyC and RobotC. Tasks change from year to year and students may take this course more than once.
Program History
PLTW program adds Engineering Design and Development as the fourth course in the Engineering Pathway
SkillsUSA District 9 Conference, 5 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals, 2 Bronze Medals.
VEX robotics continues success as the most awarded program in the State of Texas:
4 Excellence Awards, 7 Tournament Championships, 8 Design Awards, 1 Robot Skills Championship, 2 Judges Awards, 1 Amaze Award, 6 Tournament Finalists.
VEX South Texas State Tournament Finalists for both 590B and 590M. All 5 robots advance to VEX Worlds.
SkillsUSA Texas State Champions! Gold for Farrell Moeller and Bo Steber in Mobile Robotics Technology. Gold for Ty Clark and Rosendo Dominguez in Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Exploratory. Both teams qualify for TCISD's first trip to SkillsUSA Nationals
VEX Team 590B are captains of the 10th seed and advanced to the division Semifinals at VEX Worlds 2019
In the first ever VEX Texas State Championship, Texas City dominates the 5A division. Excellence Award for 590B. Tournament Championship for 590B and 590S, winning over Tournament Finalists 590D and 590X. 590S notably went undefeated for the entire event. Design Award for 590X. Robot Skills Championship for 590B.
SkillsUSA District 9 Conference, 5 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals, 2 Bronze Medals.
VEX robotics continues success as the most awarded program in the State of Texas:
4 Excellence Awards, 7 Tournament Championships, 8 Design Awards, 1 Robot Skills Championship, 2 Judges Awards, 1 Amaze Award, 6 Tournament Finalists.
VEX South Texas State Tournament Finalists for both 590B and 590M. All 5 robots advance to VEX Worlds.
SkillsUSA Texas State Champions! Gold for Farrell Moeller and Bo Steber in Mobile Robotics Technology. Gold for Ty Clark and Rosendo Dominguez in Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Exploratory. Both teams qualify for TCISD's first trip to SkillsUSA Nationals
VEX Team 590B are captains of the 10th seed and advanced to the division Semifinals at VEX Worlds 2019
In the first ever VEX Texas State Championship, Texas City dominates the 5A division. Excellence Award for 590B. Tournament Championship for 590B and 590S, winning over Tournament Finalists 590D and 590X. 590S notably went undefeated for the entire event. Design Award for 590X. Robot Skills Championship for 590B.
2017 - 2018
PLTW program adds AP Computer Science Principles as the third course in the Engineering Pathway
SkillsUSA District 9 Conference, 8 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals, 1 Bronze Medal. All students advance to state for the 4th straight year.
VEX robotics expands to 6 teams, including one of Blocker 8th grade students. The most awarded program in the State of Texas:
5 Excellence Awards, 13 Tournament Championships, 5 Design Awards, 3 Robot Skills Championships. Dan Mantz, CEO of the REC Foundation call's 590B's notebook "One of the 5 best notebooks I've ever seen"
VEX South Texas State Tournament Finalists for both 590V and 590G. Both robots advance to VEX Worlds 2018.
VEX team 590V compete in the CREATE US Open Championship.
SkillsUSA Texas State Champions! Gold for Celeste Lindusky and Farrell Moeller in Mobile Robotics Technology. Gold for Alana Lee and Diara Tsikis in Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Exploratory. Both teams qualify for TCISD's first trip to SkillsUSA Nationals
VEX Team 590V are captains of the 11th seed and advance to the division round of 16 at VEX Worlds 2018
The VEX program is invited to represent the United States in China in July 2018.
SkillsUSA National Champions! Bronze for Dillon Harvey and Farrell Moeller in Mobile Robotics Technology. Gold for Alana Lee and Diara Tsikis in Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Exploratory.
DOW donates $10,000 to expand robotics to Levi Fry Intermediate and Roosevelt-Wilson Elementary
SkillsUSA District 9 Conference, 8 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals, 1 Bronze Medal. All students advance to state for the 4th straight year.
VEX robotics expands to 6 teams, including one of Blocker 8th grade students. The most awarded program in the State of Texas:
5 Excellence Awards, 13 Tournament Championships, 5 Design Awards, 3 Robot Skills Championships. Dan Mantz, CEO of the REC Foundation call's 590B's notebook "One of the 5 best notebooks I've ever seen"
VEX South Texas State Tournament Finalists for both 590V and 590G. Both robots advance to VEX Worlds 2018.
VEX team 590V compete in the CREATE US Open Championship.
SkillsUSA Texas State Champions! Gold for Celeste Lindusky and Farrell Moeller in Mobile Robotics Technology. Gold for Alana Lee and Diara Tsikis in Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Exploratory. Both teams qualify for TCISD's first trip to SkillsUSA Nationals
VEX Team 590V are captains of the 11th seed and advance to the division round of 16 at VEX Worlds 2018
The VEX program is invited to represent the United States in China in July 2018.
SkillsUSA National Champions! Bronze for Dillon Harvey and Farrell Moeller in Mobile Robotics Technology. Gold for Alana Lee and Diara Tsikis in Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue Exploratory.
DOW donates $10,000 to expand robotics to Levi Fry Intermediate and Roosevelt-Wilson Elementary
2016 - 2017
PLTW program adds Principles of Engineering as the second course in the Engineering Pathway.
SkillsUSA District 9 Conference, 5 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal, 1 Bronze Medal. All students advance to state for 3rd consecutive year.
The VEX program expands to four competition robots, and makes a name for itself across South Texas. 5 Tournament Championships, 3 Robot Skills Championships, 3 Design Awards, 2 Judges Awards, 1 Think Award.
VEX South Texas State Tournament Champions and Robot Skills Champions. A second consecutive trip to VEX Worlds 2017
A third state medal at SkillsUSA Texas, Bronze for Celeste Lindusky and Thomas Armstrong in Mobile Robotics Technology
VEX Team 590V advances to the division quarterfinals at VEX Worlds 2017
SkillsUSA District 9 Conference, 5 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal, 1 Bronze Medal. All students advance to state for 3rd consecutive year.
The VEX program expands to four competition robots, and makes a name for itself across South Texas. 5 Tournament Championships, 3 Robot Skills Championships, 3 Design Awards, 2 Judges Awards, 1 Think Award.
VEX South Texas State Tournament Champions and Robot Skills Champions. A second consecutive trip to VEX Worlds 2017
A third state medal at SkillsUSA Texas, Bronze for Celeste Lindusky and Thomas Armstrong in Mobile Robotics Technology
VEX Team 590V advances to the division quarterfinals at VEX Worlds 2017
2015 - 2016
Project Lead The Way comes to TC! Introduction to Engineering Design replaces Concepts of Engineering and become the first course in a four year sequence of PLTW courses. Future courses planned include Principles of Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering, and Engineering Design and Development.
TCHS Robotics is now VEX team 590. We are proud to represent the 77"590".
At the SkillsUSA Texas District 9 Conference, Robotics & Engineering students take 1st in Extemporaneous Speaking, Mobile Robotics Technology (and 2nd), Prepared Speech, Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue, and Related Technical Math. All student projects receive superior ratings along with a Best of Show in STEM for Engineering Related Design. All students competing at district qualify for state.
The SkillsUSA mobile robotics team of Celeste Lindusky and Sam Moon earn TCISD's first state medal in any SkillsUSA Event, a silver for 2nd place. Jaeden Johnson adds to that a bronze medal for 3rd in state in Extemporaneous Speaking.
VEX Team 590 earn the Judge's Award at the South Texas State Championship and qualify for VEX Worlds 2016.
The TCHS PLTW lab is dedicated in honor of former school board president Michael Simpson
Grant support from Marathon Petroleum Company provides funding for a uPrint 3D printer in the engineering design classroom
TCHS Robotics is now VEX team 590. We are proud to represent the 77"590".
At the SkillsUSA Texas District 9 Conference, Robotics & Engineering students take 1st in Extemporaneous Speaking, Mobile Robotics Technology (and 2nd), Prepared Speech, Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue, and Related Technical Math. All student projects receive superior ratings along with a Best of Show in STEM for Engineering Related Design. All students competing at district qualify for state.
The SkillsUSA mobile robotics team of Celeste Lindusky and Sam Moon earn TCISD's first state medal in any SkillsUSA Event, a silver for 2nd place. Jaeden Johnson adds to that a bronze medal for 3rd in state in Extemporaneous Speaking.
VEX Team 590 earn the Judge's Award at the South Texas State Championship and qualify for VEX Worlds 2016.
The TCHS PLTW lab is dedicated in honor of former school board president Michael Simpson
Grant support from Marathon Petroleum Company provides funding for a uPrint 3D printer in the engineering design classroom
2014 - 2015
TCHS Robotics & Engineering Club forms and becomes a chapter of SkillsUSA Texas
Robotics & Engineering students take 1st and 2nd at the SkillsUSA Texas District 9 Conference in Mobile Robotics Technology, Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue, and Related Technical Math. All students competing at district qualify for state.
Nine students attend the SkillsUSA Texas state conference and contests
Robotics & Engineering students represent TCHS at the UIL district 24-5A district academic meet in Mathematics, Calculator Applications, Number Sense, and Computer Science
TCHS adds a Concepts of Engineering course
Grant support from Marathon Petroleum Company provides funding for robotics instructional and contest equipment
Robotics & Engineering students take 1st and 2nd at the SkillsUSA Texas District 9 Conference in Mobile Robotics Technology, Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue, and Related Technical Math. All students competing at district qualify for state.
Nine students attend the SkillsUSA Texas state conference and contests
Robotics & Engineering students represent TCHS at the UIL district 24-5A district academic meet in Mathematics, Calculator Applications, Number Sense, and Computer Science
TCHS adds a Concepts of Engineering course
Grant support from Marathon Petroleum Company provides funding for robotics instructional and contest equipment
2013 - 2014
For the second year, two TCHS Engineering teams advance to the international semi-finalist round of the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards
TCHS adds a Robotics Programming and Design course
Grant support from DOW provides upgrades in robotics programming software
TCHS adds a Robotics Programming and Design course
Grant support from DOW provides upgrades in robotics programming software
2012 - 2013
Two TCHS Engineering teams advance to the international semi-finalist round of the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards
See Houston Chronicle article
See Houston Chronicle article
2011 - 2012
TCHS adds Engineering Mathematics as a co-requisite to Engineering Design and Problem Solving
Grant support from the Joe DeCuir Memorial fund provides for technology upgrades
Grant support from the Joe DeCuir Memorial fund provides for technology upgrades
2010 - 2011
TCHS starts Engineering Design and Problem Solving Course as part of SMU's Infinity Project
Grant support from DOW provides for curriculum and equipment
Grant support from DOW provides for curriculum and equipment