Middle School Is the New Frontier for Entrepreneurship Education

Why 7th and 8th Grade Are the Sweet Spot for Student-Run Ventures

Author

Stephen Carter
January 05, 2026

Quick note—don’t miss your chance to be part of one of the most energizing events of 2026: the Entrepreneurship Symposium for Christian Schools. Whether you’re building an entrepreneurship program or ready to launch one, this gathering will accelerate your impact.

When Teresa Chambers, Head of School at First Baptist Academy in Houston, first attended the Entrepreneurship Symposium with two members of her team three years ago, I had no idea how fully Christ-centered entrepreneurship would eventually take root at her school.

In fact, the conversation went something like this:

“Stephen, is it worth coming to this event if we’re a PK–8 school? Or is it really just for high school?”

“I definitely think you should come,” I replied. “Although you’ll probably be the only PK–8 school in attendance.”

What I encouraged Teresa to explore was the robust 7th and 8th grade programming we had already built at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy—programming that included a student-run business called The Mini Cup. Middle school students weren’t just learning about entrepreneurship; they were living it.

Fast forward three years.

Teresa didn’t just bring entrepreneurship to her 7th and 8th graders—she expanded it across the entire PK–8 campus through intentional professional development and full program implementation. Today, 3rd and 4th graders are intentionally developing grit in the classroom, while 1st and 2nd graders are actively cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset.

And this isn’t an isolated story. Entrepreneurship is flourishing in middle schools across the country.

At Brentwood Academy in Nashville, 7th graders are preparing to launch their own student-run venture, while 8th graders already oversee the school’s vending machines.

At the Warren County Educational Service Center, entrepreneurial mindset and design thinking are embedded into a brand-new Career Exploration Center. Their 7th and 8th graders will soon launch a “problem-solving factory” venture designed to tackle real challenges.

At Sacred Heart Model School in Louisville, students are getting ready to build and operate their own Bear Necessities cart, selling products they helped design, create, and refine.

This momentum makes sense.

Middle school is a uniquely powerful season. Students bring creativity, energy, curiosity, and a growing desire for ownership. They’re ready to take risks, test ideas, and learn through doing. When we meet them with the right mindset, language, and real-world opportunities, something clicks.

Middle school isn’t too early for entrepreneurship; in fact, it might just be the sweet spot.

If you’re leading a PK–8 or middle school and wondering what it could look like to intentionally develop an entrepreneurial mindset—through student-run ventures, classroom culture, and teacher development—I’d love to help you think it through. Let’s explore what’s possible for your students and your school.

Standing out as a Christian school while staying true to your values is more challenging than ever. At Seed Tree Group, we help schools implement a proven entrepreneurship program that empowers students to take ownership of their education, equipping them with life-ready skills and creating a distinguished school with engaged students, inspired parents, and energized donors.

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Imagine your culture infused with growth mindset, grit, redefining failure, and opportunity seeking. Imagine your team acting and thinking like entrepreneurs.

Stephen Carter