Data-center companies bring their industry into school activities
Schoolchildren are encountering the data-center industry through visits, stories and classroom kits. A WIRED investigation traced this outreach to a minimum of 11 companies and industry organizations since 2025. Schools describe careers and local partnerships, while education researcher Alex Molnar questions corporate influence. The activities range from materials for young pupils to high-school visits involving computing facilities and diesel generators.
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Schools describe career visits and long partnerships
School trips have become one way for data-center operators to introduce their industry to children. WIRED’s own investigation traced school outreach since 2025 to a minimum of 11 companies and industry organizations. In Washington state, Sabey has worked with Eastmont, Manson and Quincy schools. Quincy school official Jessica Blancas described a longstanding relationship encompassing visiting speakers, practice interviews and internships, alongside tours for students interested in construction or engineering.[1]
Books and classroom kits introduce the computing facilities
The industry organization 7x24 Exchange offers a children’s story featuring the honey badger Honey and a worker named Oliver. Its data-center-day materials include career crosswords, coloring pages and cloud-service activities. In May, the Potomac chapter of the data-center trade group AFCOM provided materials to 37 schools in Virginia’s Loudoun County, reaching approximately 3,100 pupils in their first year. Its materials also highlighted the industry’s economic contribution.[1]
Corporate classroom outreach draws criticism
Education researcher Alex Molnar criticized corporate school outreach as a way to promote acceptance of companies’ interests. Schools and companies emphasize career exposure and local partnerships. Other examples include Minnesota’s Fridley High School visiting Cummins diesel-generator operations and an Amazon Skills Center event in Arlington, Virginia. Amazon invited high schools in the Washington, DC area in February; only Jackson-Reed students attended.[1]
