Real Skills, Real Success: How Howard School Internships Transform Learning

What do you want to be when you grow up?

It’s a question adults ask children a lot. We’re curious about how they envision their future selves, and their answers give us ideas about what they want to explore.

Parents of children with learning differences often listen to their answers with some anxiety. How will their diagnoses impact their ability to achieve these dreams? What does adult life look like after graduation?

At The Howard School, we’re giving students a chance to test out careers firsthand with an innovative high school internship experience designed specifically for our students. By connecting students with organizations across Atlanta, we’re creating an experiential learning opportunity packed with self-discovery and skills students need to thrive beyond the classroom.

Here’s how it works.

Projects with real-world experience

Many internships — especially those for high school students — are more of a job-shadowing experience than a true work experience. At The Howard School, we work closely with our internship partners to identify projects appropriate for students.

Some past projects include:

• The YMCA: Five interns worked together to plan and execute a member drive event for the organization.
• Out Front Theatre Company: Students worked on set design and the behind-the-scenes logistics of a stage production.
• Antimatter AI: An intern worked with a team to create an app available for purchase on an app store.
• Craft Bank: The bank requested interns who were interested in graphic design and had them work on an app for young bank customers.

Each project gives students a chance to create a work product themselves. They can include that experience on their resume and in college applications, showcasing their ability to impact an organization. They also gain confidence in their skills and insights into what they want to do after graduation. 

This effort aligns with our goal of preparing our students for their next steps. Internships help our students:

• Gain work experience. By stepping into a professional environment, students get to explore future careers safely, understand workplace expectations, and navigate new challenges outside the classroom.
• Expand their critical thinking skills. Our projects are designed to push students out of their comfort zones, encouraging them to think independently and solve problems creatively.
• Practice essential life skills. Internships are a new environment where students build muscles around communication and collaboration. They also expand their executive function skills, learning to be prepared for and manage the day.

Combining internships with academics

The Howard School internship program is part of our senior seminar. Students complete various reflections on their experience throughout the year and receive a grade for their effort. We stay in close contact with the organizations to provide ongoing feedback to the students and the organizations to ensure the internships are meaningful and working for everyone.

We transitioned to a block schedule in the 2024-25 school year, allowing us to expand the internship program from two weeks at the end of the senior year into a semester-long engagement. Seniors have time off campus during their spring semester for their internships on Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m., giving them a consistent schedule that allows them to get to know the organizations they’re working with and gain the experience and confidence to make a positive impact.

We’re always working to expand our relationships with organizations around the city of Atlanta that are interested in working with our student interns. Students will create a resume and interview for positions this year, mirroring real-world hiring practices.

Future ready

Howard School’s internship program is more than a milestone for our seniors. It’s an example of our commitment to teaching students with learning differences differently, unlocking their potential, and preparing them for success in college and the workplace. We empower students to take ownership of their future, advocate for themselves, and embrace lifelong learning.

The Howard School is a private K-12 school in Atlanta serving students with one or more of the following learning differences: dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, expressive language disorder, receptive language disorder, auditory processing disorder, executive functioning challenges and attention deficit disorder.

To learn more about whether The Howard School is a good fit for your child, complete our inquiry form. Our team will reach out to connect with you and schedule a guided tour of campus.