Why Financial Literacy Should Be a Required High School Class by Abu

Why Financial Literacy Should Be a Required High School Class by Abu - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

In today’s world, high school graduates are expected to navigate taxes, loans, credit cards, rent, savings, and job contracts, yet most of them are never taught how. That’s why I strongly believe financial literacy should be a required class in all high schools. It’s not just an elective; it’s survival.
As someone who grew up in a low-income community in Pontiac, Michigan, I’ve seen the impact that a lack of financial knowledge has on families. Too many people around me fell into debt, signed contracts they didn’t understand, or missed opportunities because no one had taught them how money works. I’ve also experienced this myself. Before I started learning about saving, budgeting, and investing on my own, I didn’t know the difference between a debit and credit card or how interest builds up on loans.
Requiring financial literacy in high school would equip students with skills they will use for the rest of their lives. It would teach them how to manage a paycheck, create a budget, file taxes, build credit, understand insurance, and avoid scams. These are real-life topics that apply to everyone, regardless of whether they’re going to college, entering the workforce, or joining the military.
In my journey, I’ve taken the initiative to study investing, track my expenses, and build financial habits through platforms like Fidelity. I’ve even helped friends understand how to set savings goals or avoid debt traps when buying their first car. But I shouldn’t have had to figure this out on my own, and neither should anyone else.
If I had access to a structured financial literacy class earlier, I would have made smarter decisions with the little money I had. It would’ve helped reduce stress, improved my confidence in handling personal matters, and set me up for long-term success. Teaching financial skills is just as important as teaching algebra or English, maybe even more, because no matter what path a student chooses, they will need to manage money.
A required financial literacy course would be a step toward equity, giving all students, especially those from under-resourced communities, the tools they need to break generational cycles of financial hardship. It’s time schools prepare students for the realities of adulthood, and financial education is the foundation of that preparation.