High School Students’ Perspectives on STEM: Importance and Interest

February 11^th marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an annual observance adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the full and equal access and participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

In the ACT Research Issue Brief from December (2025), we sought answers to questions that can help us better understand students’ perspectives on STEM and their interest in STEM-related majors and provide insights into how to better prepare them for the future workforce.

Based on the findings of this study, there are several actions high schools could take to better help students develop interest in STEM and better support those who are already interested in pursuing STEM-related majors:

• Help students learn more about STEM subjects, STEM majors, and STEM careers.
• Encourage students to assess their STEM knowledge and skills using reliable and valid assessments (e.g., the ACT math and science tests).
• Offer rigorous STEM courses that incorporate innovative teaching approaches.
• Support students in enrolling in STEM-related college credit–bearing courses.
• Connect students with individuals in STEM-related fields.
• Promote collaboration among families, schools, and communities to expand STEM opportunities.

We encourage you to draw inspiration from the full report: