Walk through the doors of Williamson County Schools’ (WSC) Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC), and you might be greeted by one of Tennessee’s most promising future business leaders.
These are not your typical high school students. The 16, 17, and 18-year-olds enrolled in the EIC already own businesses. Some are selling on a national scale and winning funding from adult pitch competitions. Others have built real marketing campaigns for major organizations like the Tennessee Titans. And a handful are growing local customer bases for consumer packaged goods companies.
The program has received national recognition, rivaling some college entrepreneurship programs. And it is about to get significantly bigger...
The Center draws from all 10 high schools in Williamson County, with district-provided transportation for mid-day blocks. Demand is so high that one cohort starts at 7 a.m., an hour before school, and it regularly fills up first.
“This just shows the power of the program and the caliber of students we accept. So if a kid is on an AP track, maximizing their schedule, they can still make the EIC work,” Qualls said.
Every student builds a Unique Value Proposition and a business plan. The curriculum is provided by Uncharted Learning, a program built by entrepreneurs for future entrepreneurs.
“The curriculum is second to none. We love it. And we also love the professional development opportunities that it presents to our students,” he said.