What do learning, statistics and sports scores have in common?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and OrthoCarolina have partnered to introduce a new STEM-based internship program that uses sports and statistical performance to better prepare students for careers in data analytics and get them excited about science, technology, engineering and math. The program, called StatSquad, is being rolled out to five CMS high schools this spring sports season.

StatSquad, developed by Charlotte-based National Amateur Sports (NAS), provides an after-school learning opportunity for high school students to study the data analytics of sports. Students collect, input, edit and analyze scholastic athletic program data which is shared with athletic administrators and coaches to potentially be used as part of their game strategy.

Over the past decade, STEM jobs have grown at a rate three times faster than non-STEM jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, which expects STEM jobs to grow at nearly double the rate of other occupations over the next 10 years. STEM workers also command higher wages, earning 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts. The launch of StatSquad marks a unique partnership between the Athletic Department and Career and Technical Education (CTE) within CMS. CTE is responsible for helping students gain academic and technical skills to prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand occupations.

“For many of us, sports and sports statistics are part of our everyday lives. It’s something we get excited about and it’s a shared cultural passion,” said Dan Murrey, CEO of OrthoCarolina. “It’s imperative that we seek out unique ways to encourage the next generation of students to consider STEM subjects that can lead them to careers in medicine, technology or a number of other fields. StatSquad is a pioneer program that will set a great example, and it’s a program that we’re proud to support.”

For more information on StatSquad visit www.NASAthletics.com.