Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. (JA-Rocky Mountain) partners with volunteers and teachers to inspire students to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and our efforts are paying off!  JA-Rocky Mountain employs an external evaluation consultant to measure our impact on student knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors in our three areas of focus: financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.

Students who participate in JA-Rocky Mountain in high school reveal a statistically significant difference in their optimism about achieving future success.  JA-Rocky Mountain programs help students feel in control of their destiny by teaching them how to manage finances and succeed in the workforce.

In addition, students who participate in JA-Rocky Mountain understand the need to get good grades and develop long-term education goals linked to their career goals. At every grade level in middle and high school, they show a statistically significant improvement in their attitude toward school.

Specifically, students demonstrate substantial gains in the following areas.

Financial Literacy – Students who participate in JA-Rocky Mountain are more confident in their ability to manage and control their finances. At every grade level in middle and high school, they demonstrate a statistically significant gain in knowing how to: make ends meet, plan for future expenses, keep track of assets and debts, stay informed of financial events, and choose financial products.

Work Readiness – Students who participate in JA-Rocky Mountain are better prepared to enter the work force. At most grade levels in middle and high school, they demonstrate a statistically significant increase in awareness of work force skills including: critical thinking, teamwork, oral communication, ethics and integrity, as well as professionalism and work ethic.

Entrepreneurship – Students who participate in JA-Rocky Mountain embody an entrepreneurial spirit and understand how to leverage resources to launch a business. At most grade levels in middle and high school, they exhibit a statistically significant understanding of key entrepreneurial characteristics including: personal discipline, planning and time-management, independence and self-reliance, optimism, persistence and belief in economic values, and targeting customers.

Results are based on an external evaluation conducted by QREM, LLC.  The data was gathered during the 2013/14 school year from 14 randomly selected schools which included a population of over 10,000 students in Metro Denver and Northern Colorado.

For more information about JA-Rocky Mountain’s research methodology, visit our Research & Evaluation webpage or contact Dr. Sherri Mitchell at 303-628-7370.