IMPACT
ABOUT NAF
NAF is a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare high school students of all backgrounds and capabilities for college, career, and future success, while addressing the economic and social disparities that have marginalized too many students and their communities. Through exposure to career pathways and opportunities to build upon one’s aspirations, developing Future Ready Skills, and creating critical workplace connections, NAF believes we can transform the high school experience, shape a diverse workforce, and support students on their paths to achieving economic mobility.
PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS IN NYC
The first NAF academy opened in 1980 at John E. Dewey High School in Brooklyn, NY. An Academy of Finance comprised
of 30 students was created as a model to ensure all students have equal opportunity for successful futures. Today, NAF
has grown to support nearly 5,000 students in 19 academies across 15 high schools in all 5 boroughs of NYC, with a
national reach of 113,000+ students.
MANHATTAN
-
High School of Economics and Finance Jacqueline
-
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School
-
Manhattan Bridges High School
-
​Business of Sports School
QUEENS
-
Local Academy of Finance and Enterprise*
-
Long Island City High School*
-
​United Charter High School for Advanced Math & Science IV (United Charter Schools)
BRONX
-
Bronx High School of Law and Finance
BROOKLYN
-
Brooklyn Academy of Global Finance High School
-
Brooklyn Lab School
-
High School for Enterprise, Business & Technology*
-
James Madison High School*
-
James Madison High School*
-
New Utrecht High School​
STATEN ISLAND
-
Susan E. Wagner High School
-
Tottenville High School
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT
Over 5,000 NYC NAF students graduating between 2019 and 2022 have chosen to attend post-secondary institutions in New York State. In recent years, NAF alumni have gone on to attend many SUNY and CUNY institutions, including Baruch College, Binghamton University, BMCC, City College, Cornell University, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, LaGuardia Community College, CityTech, SUNY Oswego, Queens College, Stony Brook University, University at Albany, and University of Buffalo.
THE VALUE OF NAF
NAF builds on what career and technical education (CTE) programs offer with hands-on, work-based learning experiences with industry professionals that complement career-focused courses to prepare students with the
in-demand skills companies seek. To this end, we have developed and provide innovative tech-enabled tools that offer virtual work-based learning opportunities, as well as platforms that track the outcomes of these experiences to support a students’ career preparation. NAF’s suite of innovation and products includes:
WBL Participation Tracker & Reflection: a student-centered approach for measuring the success of hands-on learning through our Aspirations, Skills, and Connections framework.
KnoPro: a free digital platform for high school students who want to develop in-demand skills by completing real-world projects for cash and other prizes.
Open Data Index for Schools (ODIS): a free open data resource that provides robust insights into barriers and stressors that affect high school communities
nationwide.
PARTNERSHIP WITH NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS
As an inaugural partner of the Future Ready New York City (FRNYC) initiative, NAF supports NYC Public Schools in its pursuit to prioritize student career readiness for high-wage and in-demand jobs in technology, business, healthcare, and education, by expanding pathway programs across New York City high schools. NAF provides school-based coaching services to to a portfolio which has included 15 FRNYC high schools in the development and implementation of the pathway program plans.
FUTURE READY NEW YORK CITY (FRNYC) SCHOOLS
BROOKLYN
The High School for Enterprise, Business and Technology; James Madison High School
BRONX
Astor Collegiate Academy; Bronx School of Law and Finance; Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School; Bronx High School for Medical Science; Bronx High School of Business; Bronx Academy for the Future
MANHATTAN
Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School; The
College Academy
QUEENS
​Eagle Academy for Young Men III; Queens Preparatory Academy; August Martin High School; John Bowne High School; Health, Arts, Robotics, and Technology High School
Beyond FRNYC, NAF is committed to pathway development across the city and works closely with policymakers and business leaders to address workforce needs. This includes developing robust pathways in fields such as mechanical engineering, cybersecurity and AI tech, and aviation, specifically in the borough of Queens and JFK International Airport. Through these engaging partnerships, students use state-of-the-art equipment and engage directly with industry professionals to prepare themselves for future opportunities in these fields.
NAF WORK-BASED LEARNING PARTNERS IN NYC
NAF has a long history of having industry partners in NYC who have and continue to support our students. Our partners include Accenture, Affinity Solutions, KPMG, UFT, and Verizon, among many others.
KPMG and NAF have been committed to developing a more diverse workforce pipeline and amplifying work-based learning opportunities since 2010. Through this partnership, KPMG has provided nearly 800 internship opportunities for NAF students and offer work-based
learning opportunities such as Career Discovery Day, where students participate in a series of mock interviews with KPMG professionals and hear from an engaging panel discussion of employees about
their career pathways.
Through NAF’s partnership with KPMG, they became an inaugural industry partner for the Mayoral and New York City Public School’s Career and Technical Education Industry Scholar’s Program (CTEISP).​​
NAF’s academies are supported by a strong
advisory board structure in New York City, the NYC Academy Foundation. Through their work, NYC NAF was honored to receive a grant from the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) to provide in-class workshops, outcomes-driven work-based learning experiences, public speaking programs, college prep, mock interviewing, resume development, and student scholarships.
SPOTLIGHT: JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL, ACADEMY OF IT
NAF’s James Madison High School in Brooklyn has been honored as a Katherine Blasik Distinguished level academy for the last four years -- delivering high-quality educational experiences.
Students at James Madison have access to career-focused curriculum in the IT field and participate in work-based learning experiences, such as job shadows with professionals at EY, participating in skills workshops at Credit Suisse and Citi, and attending Career Exploration Days with World Wide Technology.
Several students have been able to complete 6-week paid internships, with companies, such as Verizon, that NAF has partnered nationally with for years.
