Specialized Programs

An Academy Experience at McArthur High School with 3DE

What is 3DE?

3DE Schools by Junior Achievement re-engineers high school education to be more relevant, experiential, and authentically-connected to the complexities of the real world in order to prepare today’s students for the demands of tomorrow’s economy.

Designed to solve barriers to opportunity, 3DE Schools bring relevance and application across content using case methodology. By integrating the business community and industry in systematic ways it lifts competencies for competitiveness. 3DE Schools systematically address the structural inequalities in education by providing access to in-demand careers, fostering school stability through engagement, and building a culture of inclusionary instruction and individual value.

What Makes 3DE Schools Unique?

The 3DE school “within-a-school” model uses real-world experiences to connect standards based learning and project-based application to create interdisciplinary learning environments. This model breaks through traditional barriers and redesigns the framework of education from the inside out – expanding economic opportunity for ALL students. It…

1. Provides access and exposure for students to diverse, high-growth careers

2. Provides businesses innovative perspectives to discover new productivity ideas and/or solutions by tomorrow’s leaders, future consumers, and future employees

How Does It Work?

9^th grade experience:
3DE students’ freshman year is about establishing a firm foundation of 3DE’s six core competencies— critical & analytical thinking, creativity & innovation, cultural agility, self-direction, effective collaboration, and engaging communication. These skills are essential to career success in every industry and job. Students build and practice these skills by developing solutions to case challenges, which are real challenges our business partners are facing.

10^th grade experience:
3DE students’ sophomore year is about building upon the prior year’s foundation of 3DE’s six core competencies—critical & analytical thinking, creativity & innovation, cultural agility, self-direction, effective collaboration, and engaging communication. Students will expand these skills and deepen their thinking by developing solutions to new 10th case challenges.

11^th grade experience:
3DE students’ Junior year is about growing as a leader and innovator in a space where the creative process is celebrated and allowing students to make meaningful change in areas they care about. Students will expand these skills and deepen their thinking by developing solutions to new 11th grade case studies.

12^th grade experience:
The senior year centers on strategic thinking, as students step into the role of consultants charged with delivering innovative, practical solutions to real clients. Classroom learning integrates consulting practices, project management, workforce socialization, and career exploration. Case discussions are aligned with key projects, showing how core competencies directly inform effective leadership and consulting strategies.