North Polk Earns STEM BEST® Award to Advance Drone Technology

North Polk Earns STEM BEST® Award for Second Time

North Polk Community School District has been named one of just 30 districts statewide to receive the 2026-27 Iowa STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program award, earning this recognition for a second time. 

The STEM BEST® award strengthens North Polk’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program by expanding career-connected learning through real workplace experiences, business partnerships, and industry-aligned instruction. Students gain hands-on exposure to Iowa-based careers while building skills that translate directly to the workforce.

This award builds on significant district and community investment, including the recent opening of North Polk’s $8 million, 20,000-square-foot Career and Technical Education addition. Funded through a community-backed bond referendum passed in November 2023.

Through the STEM BEST® Program, grant and district funds will support industry-standard drone technology, software licensing, professional development, and program infrastructure. Expanded drone technology will allow students to apply skills across multiple career pathways, aerial photography and video production, agriculture through crop monitoring, mapping, and data analysis; construction through site surveying, progress tracking, and safety applications; and additional fields that rely on real-time data collection and visualization. These resources ensure students are learning with the same tools and technologies used in the field.

By aligning classroom learning with industry needs, North Polk is preparing students for success beyond graduation, equipping them with skills, experiences, and pathways that lead to real opportunities in Iowa’s workforce.