NAF’s educational design ignites students’ passion for learning and gives businesses the opportunity to shape America’s future workforce by transforming the learning environment to include STEM infused industry-specific curricula and work-based learning experiences, including internships. Since 1982, NAF has been partnering with existing high schools in high-need communities to enhance school systems at a low cost by implementing NAF academies – small learning communities within traditional high schools.
NAF has grown from one NAF Academy of Finance in New York City to hundreds of academies across the country focusing on growing industries including: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. During the 2016-17 school year nearly 100,000 students attended 675 NAF academies across 36 states, including DC and the US Virgin Islands. In 2016, NAF academies reported 96% of seniors graduated with 92% of graduates planned to go to college.
In the summer of 2017, NAF piloted Future Ready Labs (FRL), an innovative program designed to increase the number of quality, paid internships available for high school students. NAF partnered with Optum to host one of three labs at their Eden Prairie, Minnesota headquarters for students from St. Paul Public Schools.