Orange Engineering Design Academy

07/30/2026

The school year may be over, but the impact of Orange High School's Brightspeed Bright Future Tech Lab is just getting started. 💛

The lab has quickly become a centerpiece of Orange High School's Orange Engineering & Design Academy, sparking greater interest in STEM while giving students a place to learn, create, and innovate. From networking coursework and robotics competitions to a new drone program this fall and summer camps next year, the opportunities continue to grow.

The Brightspeed Bright Future Tech Lab Contest, created in partnership with Stay Plugged In, reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to technology and helping students develop the skills they'll need to succeed in tomorrow's workforce.

We can't wait to see what these students accomplish in the new school year!

06/24/2026

Might be worth looking at for anyone interested in summer jobs or possibly internships. Show up with your resume ready!

06/18/2026

We enjoyed hosting 12 students this week for an amazing week of design! Sometimes you can have fun with the simplest of things (straw, tape, and eggs). Now to get ready for week two and the Engineering Futures Camp!

For more information on the Orange Engineering Design Academy and our Summer Design Institute, check out bit.ly/oeda-camp.

We hope you are all having as much fun this summer as we are!

05/30/2026

Ok, Panthers. That was a busy week, but there are only two weeks left until graduation (and summer). Catch your breath and be ready to finish strong!

05/08/2026

It's been a busy year, but we just received confirmation that Orange High School has been named a PLTW - Project Lead The Way 2025-26 Distinguished School for our commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in our programs.

Looking forward to more exciting things to come in the 2026-27 school year!

For more information on engineering @ Orange High School, check out https://bit.ly/oeda-web.

Orange County Schools, NC

04/01/2026

Happy Spring Break, Panthers!

We've been working on something over break to help any of you that are still on the fence about joining the academy. Meet the OEDA Easy Button! One press and your application will be automatically completed, submitted, recommended, and reviewed.

If this isn't enough, feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.

You can also find the "old" way to apply @ https://bit.ly/oeda-web

03/17/2026

If you're on campus this Wednesday (March 18), join us for lunch in Ewbank's room (023) to hear more about First Robotics Team 587, The Hedgehogs and see one of their robots in action. You can find out more about their program @ https://www.team587.org .

FIRST

03/17/2026

Talk about a fun project. Imagine your design project turns into a marketable idea! Check out

The best furniture tends to ask a quiet question. Not loudly, not with a press release, but through the way it sits in a room and dares you to interact with it differently. Manuela Hirschfeld's Tilt chair does exactly that, and the fact that it comes from a student project makes it all the more

03/16/2026

We may not be on campus today, but that just means it's a good day to apply to the Orange Engineering Design Academy! If you have been putting off pressing the submit button, now's your chance...visit https://bit.ly/oeda-web for the application.

Also, check out https://bit.ly/oeda-camp for more information about our two week Summer Design Institute and FREE summer camp options for rising high school students in Orange County.

03/15/2026

Stay safe, Panthers!

Orange County Schools will be CLOSED for students, staff, and the public on Monday, March 16.

Based on forecasts from the National Weather Service, we expect unusually severe weather at unpredictable times Monday afternoon and evening, including rain and high, damaging winds. The potential for strong afternoon storms is especially critical to our decision to keep students and families out of harm’s way.

We have stayed in close contact with local authorities, and we have decided to close so that all motorists — buses, student drivers, families, staff, our whole community — can avoid any potential for traveling in conditions that may deteriorate during the day with little time to adjust.

Please remember that safety is our highest priority, and we take every situation that affects safety very seriously. District staff meet frequently to review our safety procedures, assess facilities, and help ensure that our school community is prepared for weather and any potential after-effects.

Finally, due to banked time, there is no need to make up Monday on our academic calendar. All OCS schools and facilities will be closed, and staff should contact their supervisors for any questions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please stay tuned to your email, telephone, and our website orangecountyfirst.com for any further updates.

Stay safe and have a great night!