Business as a Liberal Art? Some High Schools Say Yes
Learning about money is becoming a growing part of the high school curriculum.
October 29, 2026
By Stephan Bisaha
AP Business lessons are helping high school students learn how to manage money.
Transcript
Sitting in a semicircle around their teacher, Gerri Kimble, students at Hoover High School near Birmingham, Alabama ponder a high schooler dilemma: What to do with their part-time job paychecks. These teens say they're buying loaded teas, filling the gas tank — and investing.
"I put it in index funds, like S&P and then QQQ and VOO," says junior Darshan Parmar. Kimble asks if his parents do the actual investing. Parmar says he does it himself.
One student puts 70 percent of his income into savings, another learns about the stock market, and another is simply trying to figure out how to pay for college.
This is a new phenomenon. A few years ago, personal finance was a niche subject, taught to a handful of students who were either wealthy or facing financial hardship. Now, it’s becoming a standard part of the high school experience.
Why the shift?
Partly, it’s because students are asking for it. They’re growing up in a world where the cost of living is rising, student loan debt is at an all-time high, and the stock market seems to be on a never-ending rollercoaster.
But it’s also because there’s a growing recognition that financial literacy is a fundamental building block for adults, no matter their age or income level.
And so, schools are stepping up. According to a recent report from the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 30 states now require some form of financial literacy education.
That’s leading to some creative teaching strategies.
At Hoover High, Kimble uses real-world scenarios to teach her students. They’re negotiating rent, buying cars, and figuring out health insurance. She even brought in a financial planner to talk about retirement.
"The goal is to make sure they’re not just consumers," Kimble says. "The goal is to make sure they’re savvy, smart consumers."
And while it’s too early to tell if this new focus on financial literacy is having a positive impact, some early signs are promising.
A 2021 study from the University of Wisconsin found that students who took a personal finance course were 14 percent less likely to carry credit card debt and 12 percent less likely to default on a loan.
They were also more likely to save for retirement.