Imagine being surrounded by mentors who truly believe in your potential. Your environment, including educators and family, plays a critical role in either bolstering or hindering an aspiring young entrepreneur. That’s why Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship empowers its K-8 scholars to function as their own society of student-run businesses and government agencies. Under this model, PHCSE feels more like a business environment than a traditional education institution. This approach aims to teach students practical business skills, prepare them for the real world, and most of all, instill within them a goal-oriented entrepreneurial mindset with a vision.

PHCSE is a K-8 public charter school with a distinct focus on entrepreneurship learning with an emphasis on hands-on projects, real-world connections and mentorship with area entrepreneurs. The school has two curricula: MicroSociety for its elementary grades. The middle school grades are under Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Entrepreneurial concepts are interwoven with traditional subjects, like leadership and science.

Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship instills an entrepreneurial mindset into its K-8 scholars.

By the time PHCSE scholars enter high school, they know how to write a business plan, pitch business concepts to bankers, investors, and government officials, and are fully equipped to start their own entities. In fact, several PHCSE have continued to operate businesses throughout high school–all because someone believed in their potential.

And now, this highly successful and celebrated model is expanding through the opening of the Dominus High School. Dominus High School focuses on holistic development by offering rigorous academics and enrichment opportunities that emphasize independence, readiness, and leadership. The school will offer scholars learning opportunities through one of four educational pathways, which are: