Richmond Avenue Students Soared with Hands-On STEM Drone Program

Atlantic City Students Take Flight with Hands-On Drone Program

In Atlantic City, summer learning means more than books and classrooms — it means rising to new heights. Through an innovative STEM Drone Program at Richmond Avenue School, local students spent the season not only building drones, but also building confidence, collaboration, and career dreams.

This program was part of the city's broader effort to provide youth with immersive, future-ready experiences. Each summer, Atlantic City’s public schools continue to push learning beyond the traditional model — and this drone program proved just how powerful that can be.

Learning by Doing

Instead of passively absorbing facts, students rolled up their sleeves and assembled commercial-grade drones from the ground up. Using Rub iQ kits, they learned to wire motors, install cameras, and troubleshoot complicated circuitry. It was engineering in action — tactile, technical, and teamwork-driven.

“These are the most complex drones we’ve ever used,” said instructor Nabi Chowdhury, who guided the students through every challenge. “They learned to problem-solve and adapt, even when tools didn’t work as expected.”

From flight simulators to hands-on assembly, every step of the program pushed students to think critically and work together. For some, the learning curve was steep — and that’s exactly what made it meaningful.

Real-World Skills, Real Impact

Whether improvising with pliers to solve a mechanical issue or working through communication breakdowns as a team, students learned that success isn’t just about following instructions. It’s about curiosity, perseverance, and trust in one another.

Principal Shontai Harris encouraged students to connect their learning to real-world possibilities. “Drones are used in roofing, insurance, public safety — all kinds of industries,” Harris said. “What they’re doing here is engineering, and it’s valuable for so many career paths.”

Students also explored flight simulators to build the coordination and decision-making skills needed for real drone piloting. The experience sparked new ideas, new interests, and new connections between classmates from different backgrounds.

A Community That Lifts Its Youth

When technical issues arose due to GPS signal limitations downtown, students quickly adapted — switching to older drones and planning a future launch from a nearby beach. For educators like Allison Clark, the takeaway was clear: “They were taken out of their comfort zones and rose to the challenge.”

The program showed that when students are trusted with real tools and real responsibility, they respond with creativity, grit, and pride.

Why Atlantic City?

This STEM Drone Program is just one example of how Atlantic City continues to invest in its youth — not only in summer but year-round. From hands-on STEM camps and creative arts programs to job training and scholarships, the city is building pathways to opportunity.

Programs like this remind us why Atlantic City is more than a destination — it’s a community. A place where young people can see themselves reflected in their schools, their neighborhoods, and their future.

It’s a city where students don’t just learn — they launch.

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Photo Credit: Mark Tyler | Atlantic City Public Schools