High School Programs

Junior Achievement's High School Programs include:

• JA Company Program - analyzes and explores personal opportunities and responsibilities within a student-led enterprise
• JA Economics (formerly Applied Economics) - a full-semester program that examines the fundamental concepts of micro, macro, and international economics
• JA Personal Finance - helps students make informed decisions about the effective use of income to reach personal financial goals
• JA Titan - introduces critical economics and management decisions through an interactive Web-based simulation
• JA Success Skills - develops students' interpersonal effectiveness and problem-solving skills necessary for the workplace

• With the support and guidance of volunteer consultants from the local business community, the JA Company Program provides basic economic education for high school students. By organizing and operating an actual business enterprise, students not only learn how businesses function, they also learn about the structure of the U.S. free enterprise system and the benefits it provides. JA Company Program helps young people appreciate and better understand the role of business in our society.

• Examines the fundamental concepts of micro-, macro-, and international economics. Eight required volunteer-led activities.
• Concepts–Advantage, Demand, Economic systems, Exchange rates, Fiscal policy, GDP, Government, Income distribution, Inflation, Investment, Labor, Markets, Opportunity costs, Productivity, Scarcity, Supply, Trade
• Skills–Applying information, Classifying, Critical thinking, Decision-making, Giving reports, Graphing, Interpreting data, Math computation, Reading, Research, Taking notes, Writing

• Income. Spending and credit. Saving and investing. Risk management. Classroom teachers and online activities guide students on the road to sound money management. JA Personal Finance helps students make informed decisions about the effective use of income to reach personal financial goals. Eight required, volunteer-led activities.
• Concepts–Budgets, Choices, Consumers, Credit, Income, Economic institutions, Inflation, Government, Insurance, Interest rates, Investment, Money, Opportunity cost, Risk, Saving, Scarcity, Taxes, Wages
• Skills–Analyzing information, Computer, Conducting research, Decision-making, Following directions, Giving reports, Interpreting data, Math computation, Making observations, Reading, Problem-solving

• The year is 2030. The CEO of the future needs to get the Holo-Generator™ to market before the competition does. So goes the premise of the all-new JA Titan, a powerfully interactive simulation that has recently been re-imagined by Junior Achievement. JA Titan is more than just a game. It's a JA experience. Coupled with the presence of a volunteer in the classroom, students apply their knowledge of business as they compete online in the highly competitive industry of the fictional Holo-Generator™.
• While simulating “business quarters,” you’ll need to enter decisions on price, production, marketing, capital investment, and R & D. The impact of your decisions will eventually lead to the success or failure of your Holo-Generator™ company

• Building rapport. Influencing others. Teamwork. These are critical interpersonal skills. The students undergo individual interpersonal skill assessment, and benchmarks are set. They then practice and develop these skills as JA classroom volunteers demonstrate their relevance to school, to work, and to life. JA Success Skills focuses on developing students’ interpersonal effectiveness. Through an assessment, the students identify the strengths and unique potentials of their interpersonal skills. They examine how their interpersonal skills can be applied in the workplace, and practice their skills in a variety of activities, including mock job interviews. They begin work on a skills portfolio that they can carry with them into the workplace when seeking employment. Eight required, volunteer-led activities.
• Concepts–Attitude, Building rapport, Business, Careers, Choices, Citizenship, Communication, Ethics, Interpersonal skills, Interviews, Leadership, Opportunity costs, Resumes, Skills, Teamwork
• Skills–Active listening, Analyzing behavior, Asking questions, Building self-esteem, Consensus building, Encouraging interpersonal relations, Resolving conflict, Role-playing, Teamwork, Using etiquette

© 2004, Junior Achievement of Central Virginia