Personal Finance Class
June 16–27, 2025
Monday–Friday
9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Take charge of your financial future with this two-week summer course designed for high school students. In this 30-hours course, students will gain practical tools and confidence to make smart financial decisions—now and in adulthood.
Week one focuses on career planning and job readiness. Students will explore careers, complete job applications, write resumes, and practice interviewing. They’ll also learn how to read paystubs, understand taxes, and manage basic bank accounts.
In week two, the focus shifts to managing money. Topics include cost of living, saving, budgeting, compound interest, retirement planning, and the importance of building strong financial habits early. Students will also learn to use Excel for budgeting and expense tracking.
Those who wish to receive 0.25 life skills credit may opt to pay an additional $60 for the American Heritage School to be graded and added to their school transcript.
The class will take students from career exploration to real-world financial literacy through engaging, hands-on learning. Topics include:
Career Preparation:
- Career exploration and planning
- How to fill out a job application
- Resume writing and interview preparation
Getting Paid:
- Understanding paystubs
- Taxes and deductions
- Basics of banking: checking and savings accounts
Money Management:
- The power of compound interest
- Introduction to retirement planning
- Cost of living analysis and budgeting
Financial Tools & Habits:
- Basic Excel skills for tracking income and expenses
- Creating sustainable budgets
- Building good financial habits early
By the end of the course, students will have practical tools and knowledge to make smart financial decisions now and in the future. They’ll leave with a clearer picture of how to plan for a career, manage money, and build a financially responsible lifestyle.
Week 1: Career & Getting Paid
- Day 1: Career exploration, goal-setting, intro to job applications
- Day 2: Resume writing workshop, job search tools
- Day 3: Interview skills & practice
- Day 4: Understanding job offers, benefits, and reading paystubs
- Day 5: Introduction to taxes, withholdings, and banking basics
Week 2: Managing Money & Building Habits
- Day 6: Savings accounts, compound interest, and retirement intro
- Day 7: Cost of living, needs vs. wants, and Excel basics
- Day 8: Budgeting workshop (students create their own budgets)
- Day 9: Financial decision-making, credit, and debt
- Day 10: Wrap-up, final project presentations, course reflection
Cost: $325 (Optional $60 for transcript credit)
Credit: 0.25 Life Skills (optional)
Open to students entering grades 9–12.