Nationwide, National Academy Foundation (NAF) schools that offer specialty courses in finance, engineering, health sciences, hospitality and tourism, information technology, and law enforcement are designed as school-within-a-school models. The mission of NAF campuses is to provide students from low socioeconomic and at-risk backgrounds equitable opportunities to engage in project-based learning with professionals in the business community. Oklahoma City Public Schools transitioned 9 of 11 district high schools into career academies. Academy mentorships and job internships help students focus on career choices. Professionals mentor and train students in these academies via internships in local businesses. The researcher examined the experiences of the first graduating class of the finance academy using a qualitative methodology. Specifically, the researcher used open-ended interview questions to gather data on participants' experiences and perceptions of the Academy of Finance. Participants included ethnically diverse male and female students who graduated from the finance academy at one urban, public Title I district high school. Using the phenomenological framework, the researcher posed 15 questions during 60-minute interviews to collect the lived experiences of 12 participants in the first graduating class of the finance academy. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]