Richardson ISD and Junior Achievement of Dallas celebrated the opening of a new partnership and experiential learning center on August 27, 2026. The facility, located at the Greenwood Hills Learning Center, is designed to provide hands-on career and financial education for students in the district.
Beginning this school year, all fifth-grade students will have the opportunity to visit the new JA Discovery Center. The space features JA Biztown, an immersive environment that simulates a miniature city. In this setting, students can manage a storefront, own a local business, manage a bank account, visit City Hall, and mail letters.
The simulation incorporates familiar local landmarks, including Richardson’s Main Street and local businesses, to help students connect their learning to the community.
The center is expected to serve more than 5,000 RISD students annually. The program is described as reminiscent of the district’s former Enterprise City program, which began in 1985 at Canyon Creek Elementary. Junior Achievement provides the nationally recognized curriculum for the center.
A second phase of the initiative is scheduled for the spring semester. JA Finance Park will open to provide an experience for every seventh grader. This program focuses on building financial literacy skills and exploring how career choices, income, and financial decisions impact a student's future.
Superintendent Tabitha Branum stated that the district has transformed the space to host a new generation of dreams. She noted that without such experiences, students may lack the action steps and skills needed to see their dreams as possible. Richardson ISD stated its commitment to helping students build skills in financial literacy, critical thinking, effective communication, and emotional intelligence.
