Imagine a high-performing, state-of- the-art career and technical high school not only being built in a low-income community, but also being designed and co-created by the residents of that community. Imagine labor unions partnering with communities of color to lead the charge to build tuition-free private schools that lead directly into apprenticeships and in-demand jobs with great pay. Imagine businesses committing resources and partnerships to support these high quality career and technical education (CTE) schools, and also offering high-paying jobs to the students who complete the programs. Imagine an entire network of these schools—across multiple communities— that serve students in poverty and provide an educational experience that is both high-quality in delivering traditional academic coursework, and offers a seamless transition from high school-based apprenticeships into direct employment after graduation. This sounds like a dream, but the opportunity is real in Illinois. The Untapped Potential Project exists to make all of these visions become reality.