CityEscape

What is CityEscape?

Students focus on academic subjects throughout the school day, and the last hour of each day is CityEscape. During CityEscape, students and teachers work together, creating a city that is reflective of the community outside the school. Student managers, grades 6 through 8, oversee the operation of the city. Students have jobs and are paid City currency. Through this interactive approach, students come to understand the socio-economic and political forces affecting society. They gain experience with a free market economy, taxes, technology, unemployment, and community concerns. Students practice skills they will need to be productive citizens.

CityEscape process:

• Students create a job packet to apply for their job of choice. Job packets include a letter of interest, a resume, a written job application, and 2 letters of recommendation. 
• Student managers interview prospective employees, and select the most qualified applicants. 
• Students who are not hired in the first round interview for positions that are still available, until everyone is hired. On-the-job training lasts for one week. 
• Student pay is directly deposited into their bank accounts, and students must pay weekly taxes out of their account. 
• Students are evaluated by their managers twice a trimester.