Chelan students build real-world financial skills through coursework

CHELAN — Students in the Lake Chelan School District are gaining hands-on experience in managing money, planning for the future and making informed financial decisions through courses offered at Chelan Middle School and Chelan High School.

District officials say financial literacy has become an essential part of the student experience, aligning with the district’s mission of preparing students for academic, social and emotional success through meaningful instruction.

At Chelan Middle School, the Financial Fitness elective introduces students to the fundamentals of money management. The course, taught by Melanie Froman and Bert Granados, begins with lessons on how financial decisions affect daily life and long-term goals.

Students learn practical skills such as comparison shopping, using coupons and reading receipts. The curriculum also includes instruction on different forms of payment, writing checks, balancing a checkbook and creating a personal signature. For some students, it is their first exposure to cursive writing.

A central component of the class is a stock market project in which students select a publicly traded company to track for a month. Each student delivers a “Stock Talk” presentation explaining how the company is performing and why. Teachers say the project connects economic concepts to current events while building public speaking and critical thinking skills.

The course also incorporates “FinCap Fridays,” featuring short videos on financial topics followed by student reflections. Interactive projects developed with the support of artificial intelligence tools are used to reinforce key concepts.

At Chelan High School, students expand on those skills in the Surviving on Your Own course, taught by Jeff Pearl. The class focuses on preparing students for adult financial responsibilities, including budgeting, understanding loans and managing credit.

Students create budgets that account for food, gas, utilities, car insurance, rent and emergency expenses. Lessons emphasize the difference between needs and wants and explore how to adjust spending when income is limited.

The course also examines how credit scores influence interest rates and financing. Students analyze scenarios such as purchasing a car or home to understand how changes in credit history or loan terms can affect long-term costs. Renting versus owning a home is also discussed, with students considering financial and lifestyle factors.

FinCap Fridays and interactive projects are also part of the high school curriculum, providing regular opportunities for students to reflect on financial news and personal decision-making.

Superintendent Brad Wilson said the programs reflect the district’s broader educational goals.

“Education is about more than just traditional academics,” Wilson said. “Our goal is for our students to achieve, believe in themselves, and contribute to their community. Financial literacy helps make that possible.”

District officials say the courses are designed to give students practical tools they can apply immediately and after graduation, reinforcing the belief that intentionally guided pathways lead to student success.

Established in 1892, the Lake Chelan School District serves 1,273 students. According to OSPI data, 96 percent of students graduate in four years, and more than 78 percent of high school students are enrolled in no-cost, college-level coursework. The district’s headquarters is located at 309 E. Johnson Ave. in Chelan.