What is FutureReadyNYC?

In New York City, just 1 in 10 high school graduates earns a living wage within a year of graduation. FutureReadyNYC is an ambitious initiative by New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) to better prepare its high school graduates for the workforce. The program embeds career-aligned pathways into public high schools—connecting students to high-growth industries like tech, healthcare, business, education, and the green economy.

Launched in 2022 by the NYCPS Office of Student Pathways, FutureReadyNYC offers a reimagined high school experience that integrates five key components: early college credit and credentials, work-based learning, personalized advising, financial literacy, and career-connected instruction. These components are tied to higher wages and better career satisfaction, according to recent alumni surveys.

In just three years, over 15,000 students across 135 schools have enrolled in FutureReadyNYC pathways. The program is especially focused on equity: participants are more likely to be Black or Hispanic, economically disadvantaged, or in temporary housing. The model is showing early signs of success—with higher attendance, lower chronic absenteeism, and stronger GPAs compared to citywide averages.

By 2030, NYC Public Schools aims to reach 100,000 students with in-depth career-connected learning experiences, driven significantly by FutureReadyNYC.  With strong demand and a $100M annual public investment already committed, the program is poised for sustainable growth. NYCPS is also building the infrastructure to measure long-term wage outcomes through a new data-sharing agreement with the New York State Department of Labor.

Why did Goodman Philanthropies invest?

Goodman Philanthropies is pleased to announce $500,000 in grant support over a two-year period (2025 & 2026) to the Fund for New York City Public Schools to support the FutureReadyNYC program. Some of the core reasons why this model excites us include:

Strong Momentum and Growth.  The program is deeply embedded in NYCPS, has strong momentum with 50 new additions planned for this year. Close to 200 high schools applied for those 50 new cohort spots, representing demand from communities and families for this type of programming and traction to date. With the newest cohort, approximately 1 in 3 NYCPS high schools will have implemented FutureReadyNYC.

Evidence-Based Model for Economic Mobility. FutureReadyNYC stands out among the 40+ programs we’ve reviewed nationwide. Its model is grounded in compelling research on what drives upward mobility: dual enrollment, advising, career-connected instruction, credentials, and real-world work experience, each implemented with precision and data.

Catalytic Use of Philanthropy. Our grant support will help FutureReadyNYC test and pilot newer concepts (e.g.,industry-recognized credentials) with the ultimate goal of leveraging pilot results to build the case for core (city-funded) public budget allocation in the longer term. This is precisely the type of catalytic funding we see as a core role of philanthropic capital and a best practice use of dollars.

What impact are we hoping to achieve?

Near-Term Goals:

• 15,000 students enrolled in FutureReadyNYC pathways, plus 60,000 in foundational career exploration for SY25-26.175+ schools engaged, with over 300 educators trained in the model.

• 70% of schools meeting 80%+ of key implementation benchmarks (e.g., enrollment in career-connected coursework, completion of financial literacy and paid work-based learning)

• 200 students in the FutureReadyNYC healthcare pathway will complete coursework aligned to an industry-recognized healthcare credential (at least 70% will earn an industry-recognized healthcare credential).

• 10 FutureReadyNYC schools and 10+ teachers will participate in a credentialing pilot.
  

Longer-Term Vision:

A reimagined high school system where every student graduates prepared for a career in a high-wage, high-growth field.  FutureReadyNYC will ultimately help achieve the north star goal of the New York City Public School system – to deliver rigorous academics and real-world learning experiences to ensure all students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in their careers and communities. 

About Goodman Philanthropies

Goodman Philanthropies supports innovative, evidence-based solutions that expand economic mobility across the United States. We prioritize approaches that combine rigor, innovation, and scale to move the needle on poverty and opportunity. Our work is generously funded by Bennett & Meg Goodman, who are committed to dismantling barriers to upward mobility through strategic, impact-driven philanthropy. Learn more about our approach and see our grants portfolio at www.goodmanphilanthropies.org.