In the News

A Brentwood High School alum is one of five finalists in the INCubatoredu National Pitch Contest.

Long trend: student enterprise. Many organizations have been supporting youth entrepreneurship in and out of school for decades. Student enterprise also has a long history in journalism student-led publications, broadcasts, and more recently sports marketing. Entrepreneurship is a trending interest of Gen Z and is more important than ever in the economy.  

Lewisville High School (Lewisville Independent School District) students, participating in the INCubatoredu program, competed in their Final Pitch Night at the Technology, Exploration & Career Center - West in Lewisville, Texas on April 25, 2024. Hopeful entrepreneurs were vying for a total of $5,000 in seed funds to help take their business to the next level. The program is in its sixth year, sponsored by financial contributions from Mary Kay, Inc., City of Lewisville, and M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation.

With a new $250,000 state grant in hand, a small exurban district superintendent asked for advice on how to invest in #NewPathways. Following are 10 ideas along with some leading examples. 

Over the past 120 days, we’ve conducted tours of over 50 high schools in more than 1,000 classrooms across various cities including Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Northern Colorado, Kansas City, Twin Cities, Pittsburgh, and San Diego. These schools were purposefully selected for their dedication to real world learning, positioning them at the forefront of innovative education. These visits showed schools leading the way into new pathways, active learning methods, and work-based learning initiatives. From our observations at these leading schools, we’ve identified 8 key insights about the state of American high schools.

Throughout the school year, Clear Creek High School students worked with a national entrepreneurial program, INCubatoredu, to create, manufacture, market, and pitch products or services to a board of local business leaders.

White Plains High School students are getting a shot at their own “Shark Tank” experience through an elective course that fosters their entrepreneurial spirit.

For the last five years, Kansas City educators have been visiting high schools across the country in search of great examples of Real World Learning, including client projects, entrepreneurial experiences, internships, college credits, and industry-recognized credentials. Last month, a group of principals visited rural, suburban, and urban Chicagoland high schools featuring real-world learning experiences in career pathways. 

Club member Andrea, 16, was nervous. She had never pitched a business idea before – let alone to four business mentors with decades of experience and companies that are valued in the millions.

Growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Little Rock helped me to understand the value of a dollar from a young age.