Click here to read about our PRICE High School Project.

A comprehensive PRICE High School Model has been developed through a collaborative effort with the PPS Career Development Department, the Westinghouse High School administration, lead teachers, the PRICE Partners High School Committee and the PRICE staff. The PRICE High School Model includes two components, an in-school component and employer internship component. This two component structure provides a greater impact by:

• Reaching approximately 80 African American students (100% diversity) in the Business and Finance Academy at Westinghouse High School (grades 9 through 12) through the in-school component.
• Providing employer internship opportunities for selected 11th and 12th grade students.
• Providing workshops and speakers that expand on the school curriculum lessons.
• Exposing students of all levels to various business people and potential careers.

In December 2004, the PRICE High School In-School component was implemented at the Business and Finance Academy at Westinghouse High School. A PRICE Orientation and introduction to the Workshop and Speakers Bureau was presented to all academy students, 9th through 12th grades. Monthly, starting in January 2005, the academy students will have the opportunity to learn from regional business people and participate in career workshops. Topics for the speakers and the workshops will build on lessons from the academy curriculum.

The PRICE High School Program Employer Internship component will be implemented in summer 2005 with up to 10 academy students and three to four participating financial services employers.

Moving forward, PRICE plans to build relationships with additional high schools to participate in the program.

Our challenge is to connect diversity to internships, leading to capacity building and retention, and to formalize the commitment within each financial services organization in the region. In 2004, PRICE met a critical goal by attaining 89% student diversity in the combined PRICE High School and Post-secondary Programs. Building on the success of the past year and in reaching critical goals, we are progressing towards meeting that challenge.