LAS VEGAS (AP) - Administrators say six Las Vegas-area schools will split a $3 million federal grant to start high-tech science, engineering and math programs.

Clark County School Superintendent Dwight Jones tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal the program aims to help meet a need for trained engineers and skilled tradesman in the so-called STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

The nation's fifth-largest school district could have used the money from the federal Education Department's Investing in Innovation competition for many purposes.

Officials say the money will be used over three years beginning next August to benefit 5,600 students at Garside, Gibson, Findlay and Johnston middle schools, and at Mojave and Western high schools.

The schools were chosen because of low participation rates in science and math.

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