Junior Achievement of Central North Carolina, Inc. (JA)

Last year Junior Achievement (JA) programs impacted the lives of about 6,000 Guilford County Students, with classes available in 210 Guilford County classrooms.

Volunteers from the community help to make economic concepts relevant, fuel the entrepreneurial spirit, and challenge the students to excel. Locally, over 200 volunteers each year participate by bringing Junior Achievement programs to students.

Junior Achievement's sequential kindergarten through 12th grade programs help young people use information, apply basic skills, think critically, and solve complex problems. These programs are designed to be flexibly integrated as relevant extensions of standard school curricula. In kindergarten, students are introduced to the idea of the lemonade stand. By the time they are in the 12th grade, students are learning how the global economy works.

Junior Achievement Programs

The elementary school programs focus on economics and the role of business in students' lives as individuals, members of families and as participants in local, national and global communities.

The middle school programs teach students about the free enterprise system and the global economy as well as careers and personal economics.

The high school programs focus on economic literacy, entrepreneurship and preparing for roles in the work place. They demonstrate the relevance of entrepreneurial endeavor, economic concepts and business principles.

Each year, Junior Achievement depends on financial support from area businesses, foundations, and individuals to provide Junior Achievement programs requested by schools.

The Backbone of Junior Achievement

Students: JA students, particularly those who have participated in programs at consecutive grade levels, demonstrate a significant understanding of economic and business concepts, as determined by independent evaluators.

Mentors: Volunteers serve as role models to help young people better understand economic concepts in order to become successful in the workplace and in life. These volunteers meet face to face with kids for the simplest of human interaction.sharing.

Investors: Businesses, foundations, and individuals support JA because it teaches students about economics and business and because JA's positive impact is measurable.

Educators: Teachers welcome Junior Achievement's resources because they enhance the learning environment and reinforce the classroom curricula.

Schools that requested Junior Achievement for 2000-2001 and/or had JA last year are as follows:

Elementary Schools: Alamance, Allen Jay, Archer, Braxton Craven, Colfax, Fairview, Florence, General Greene, Gibsonville, Irving Park, Jefferson, Madison, Morehead, Oak Hill, Oak Ridge, Pilot, Pleasant Garden, Rankin, Sedalia, Montlieu, Nathanael Greene, Southwest, and Stokesdale

Middle Schools: Guilford, Jamestown, Kiser, Mendenhall, and Southeast. Schools are in the process of planning spring programs: Allen, Ferndale, Griffin, Jackson, and Lincoln

High Schools: Dudley, Grimsley, Northwest, Page, Ragsdale, Smith, and Southeast

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