Seminole Science Charter School students win STEM Fair honors

Seventeen Seminole Science Charter School students took first place in their categories at the school’s annual STEM Fair, a showing that put elementary and middle school research on display in Lake Mary. The projects reached beyond classroom basics, with students testing scientific hypotheses in fields from behavioral and social science to the environment and microbiology.

Among the recognized entries were an analysis of biodegradable hydrogels in agriculture and a project asking whether age affects a person’s ability to detect images generated by artificial intelligence. Those topics showed the range of work coming out of the K-8 charter school, from practical questions about farming to newer concerns about how people recognize machine-made content.

The fair highlighted more than polished presentations. It showed students at Seminole Science Charter School being asked to investigate, compare evidence and explain results in public, skills that mirror the work required in higher-level science courses. For families in Seminole County looking at STEM pathways early, the mix of disciplines offered a clear sign that the school is pushing students to think like researchers, not just memorize facts.

Seminole Science Charter School describes itself as a tuition-free STEM charter school serving grades K-8 in Lake Mary. U.S. News lists the school at 537 students, with 29 full-time equivalent teachers and a 19-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The same profile reports that 82% of students scored at or above proficient in math and 79% did so in reading, figures that help explain why the school continues to draw attention for academic performance as well as enrichment.

The STEM Fair results also fit into a broader pattern at the school. In February, Wesley Galluci-Tsai won first place in the number-sense category at a Sanford Math League tournament after previously earning a perfect score at an international elementary championship. In late 2024, the school’s VEX robotics team, the Stingbots Titans, qualified for the CREATE U.S. Open Robotics National Championship.

Seminole County Public Schools has also kept science competition in the spotlight, holding its 2026 Seminole County Regional Science, Math, and Engineering Fair on Feb. 7 at Lake Mary High School. Taken together, those events point to a countywide pipeline where younger students are getting repeated chances to research, present and compete in STEM before they reach high school.