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February 22, 2023

Ankeny School District Expands Partnership with Junior Achievement

The Ankeny Community School District is excited to announce it has expanded its partnership with Junior Achievement of Central Iowa (JA). The expanded partnership will foster more career exploration, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship for Ankeny students. 

Ankeny fifth-graders have been participating in JA BizTown, a program of Junior Achievement, in which students interact within a simulated economy, since 2018. The popularity and success of student participation in JA BizTown led the district to pursue additional JA opportunities for all K-12 students. 

This year, all seventh-grade students will participate in JA Finance Park, a financial literacy laboratory that produces a reality-based learning environment for middle and high school students. Additionally, some high school students will participate in the JA Stock Market Challenge competition, where students work hands-on in teams to compete in a live stock market simulation.

The partnership between the school district and Junior Achievement aligns with Ankeny’s new strategic plan and the promise that all Ankeny students will graduate prepared for postsecondary success. 

“Ankeny’s educational vision for the future is inspiring, and we want to help advance that vision,” said Junior Achievement President Ryan Osborn. “We’re excited for the opportunity to help Ankeny students create a bright future.”  

District leadership and Mr. Osborn will continue to collaborate to develop new, exciting initiatives to offer students in the future to further their postsecondary readiness.

“Our relationship with Junior Achievement is an important component of equipping our students with the skills to flourish in and contribute to an ever-changing world,” said Ankeny Superintendent Dr. Erick Pruitt. “This type of hands-on learning experience allows students to connect what they are learning in classrooms with the real world. In doing so, they are better able to imagine and work toward a successful future.”

About Junior Achievement Of Central Iowa:

Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Iowa’s mission is to empower students with a skillset and mindset to create a bright future. As K-12th grade experts in career education, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, JA connects business and school communities through their volunteer network to deliver relevant, inspiring and standard-aligned educational experiences. Youth benefit from Junior Achievement via JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, in-school programs, digital platforms, competitions and camps. Annually, JA of Central Iowa serves over 21,000 students with nearly 300,000 instructional hours across their 52 county territory. Junior Achievement of Central Iowa is a 501(c)3 non-profit, for-impact organization. For more information, visit www.jacentraliowa.org