A Decade of Re-Engineering School
It all began with a challenge: “Show me how you would redesign school.”
In 2013, Junior Achievement created something impactful: Experiential learning centers that brought students together and ignited excitement for learning. A Georgia superintendent saw the potential and posed a question that would change everything: “If you can do that… show me how you would redesign school.”
Our response? Let’s do this together. We weren’t trying to build a new system. We were trying to solve the core issues of the one we had. So Junior Achievement and school district leaders gathered around a table and listed everything it takes to run a school. The district claimed what they did best. JA claimed what we did best. And together, we filled in the rest.
We deconstructed the traditional model and asked: If we could do it differently, what would it look like?
We realized we needed the input of another key player: businesses. We brought in major global companies to weigh in. We turned to companies like Delta, who operate across nearly every career sector. Delta doesn’t just need pilots. They also need chefs, travel agents, mechanics, and marketers. And they need students to see these careers as real and attainable.
Partnering with businesses goes beyond career exposure. It’s also about authentic integration, creating connections between classes, answering the “why,” and giving students real-world experiences. We don’t expect teachers to be experts in every industry. That’s why we decided to bring in case challenges and business coaches to provide that perspective and unlock a new kind of learning.
It’s a win-win.
Companies connect with future talent and showcase their industries.
Students gain access to industry expertise that makes learning engaging, relevant, and future- ready.
This school year marks a major milestone: a decade of 3DE. Ten years ago, we set out with a bold mission: to re-engineer high school education. What began in a single school in Atlanta is now integrated into 80 schools across 32 districts in 13 states. Along the way, we’ve delivered experiential learning, graduated confident and competent students, and built deep partnerships that bring our model to life.
We’re proud of what we’ve built.
And we’re just getting started.