Students at Price Middle School didn’t have to leave campus to experience the excitement of air travel on October 27. Instead, their school was transformed into a bustling airport terminal, complete with check-in, security, boarding and in-flight service, as part of an immersive learning experience designed to introduce seventh graders to careers in aviation.
The event kicked off Flight to the Future, a year-long, project-based learning initiative that connects classroom lessons to real-world career opportunities. Throughout the experience, students navigated the various stages of air travel, putting their research and preparation into action while gaining firsthand exposure to an industry that plays a major role in Atlanta’s economy.
Although Price Middle School is located just miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, many students have never experienced air travel themselves. Flight to the Future is designed to help bridge that gap, introducing students to new experiences and encouraging them to envision future possibilities.
Building on a Legacy of Opportunity
The initiative builds on Price Middle School’s seven-year partnership with Virgin Atlantic through its Passport to Change program.
That partnership began when Quatoya Tyson, then a classroom teacher at Price and now an instructional coach, was introduced to the program through a community-focused, project-based learning initiative. Price ultimately became the only U.S. school selected to participate in Virgin Atlantic’s global program.
Over the years, the partnership created extraordinary opportunities for students, including a trip to the United Kingdom, where three Price students presented at WE Day and visited Virgin Atlantic’s headquarters.
When Virgin Atlantic shifted its focus toward sustainability and concluded the Passport to Change program earlier this year, Price educators saw an opportunity to build on what they had learned and continue offering meaningful aviation experiences to students.
Rather than letting the experience end, the Price team created Flight to the Future, carrying forward the program’s spirit of exploration, career discovery and hands-on learning.
Bringing the Airport Experience to Price
For the October 27 event, Price’s lobby and media center were transformed into an airport terminal and airplane cabin, allowing students to experience the journey of a traveler from beginning to end.
Students moved through check-in, security screening, boarding, in-flight service and deboarding, with each step designed to reinforce their understanding of airport operations and the many professionals who make air travel possible.
The experience was more than a creative simulation. It offered students an opportunity to apply research, practice communication and problem-solving skills, and discover the wide range of careers connected to aviation.
Mentors and volunteers from Delta Air Lines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta’s community and corporate partners helped bring the experience to life, connecting students with professionals who understand the industry firsthand.
Connecting Classroom Learning to Future Careers
The aviation simulation marks the beginning of a broader educational journey for Price’s seventh graders.
Throughout the school year, students will explore the aviation industry through lessons and projects that integrate math, science, English language arts, social studies and STEM.
By connecting academic concepts to real-world applications, Flight to the Future gives students opportunities to strengthen critical skills such as teamwork, public speaking, research and creative problem-solving.
Just as importantly, the initiative encourages students to see themselves in careers they may never have considered before.
From pilots and flight attendants to engineers, airport operations specialists, security professionals and many other roles, the aviation industry offers a wide range of career pathways. Experiences like Flight to the Future help students begin imagining where their own interests and talents might take them.
