Finance Classes for High School Students in Dallas

Every person, no matter their age, can benefit from becoming financially literate. Many topics make up financial literacy: how to open a bank account, pay bills on time, create and manage a budget, how credit works, how to improve your credit score, tips for using debt responsibly, how to save money for retirement, and how to compare financial products like credit cards and investments.

Over 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Learning the basics of finance can help you to have an emergency savings account, leverage credit to your advantage, master budgeting, and experience the freedom that comes from financial stability.

Why High School Students Should Learn Finance

Learning finance at a young age can set you up for success later in life. The power of financial literacy has motivated seven states (and counting) to have financial literacy requirements in schools. The Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA) Foundation reports that students with higher financial literacy were less likely to have late fees, make only minimum payments on their credit cards, and take out payday loans. Georgia, Idaho, and Texas are three states that implemented mandatory financial education, and, three years later, they saw a rise in credit scores and a decrease in delinquency rates.

Studying finance in high school can also help you prepare for your academic future. Taking a finance class can be a great way to ace the AP finance exam, which can also improve your chances of college acceptance. And, with plenty of top-notch finance programs at nearby universities like Texas A&M University, University of North Texas, and Southern Methodist University, you’ll have plenty of top-notch schools to choose from.

In-Person Finance Classes in Dallas

While there aren’t currently any in-person finance classes for teens available in Dallas, there are several online options. Below are two highly-regarded online courses for you to consider.

Georgetown School of Continuing Education’s investing course was created for students 13 years old and up and can be completed in a one-week intensive or a two- or three-week session. You’ll cover topics like the foundations of finance, valuation approaches, and how to build investments. You’ll also study the union of technology and finance in FinTech, learn the steps to buying stocks, and even discuss various college majors related to finance and investing.

EVERFI offers a free online financial literacy course for high school students which teaches how to make wise decisions with your money to promote financial well-being throughout your life. Through real-life scenarios, you’ll learn about budgeting, consumer skills, managing credit and debt, financing higher education, and how insurance works.

Virtual Finance Classes

Live online classes are held in virtual classrooms and all you need to get started is a computer and internet access. Most (if not all) of your curriculum will be online, meaning you won’t need to spend money on additional materials. Live online classes let you interact with your instructor and other classmates, ask questions, and receive feedback in real-time. Instructors can see and control your screen (with your permission) to help troubleshoot any challenges you may face. Plus, you can attend virtual classes from anywhere, whether that’s your home, favorite coffeehouse, or local library.

NextGen Bootcamp’s Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program is hosted live online and consists of 25 hours of in-depth learning. You’ll study the most essential business tool, Microsoft Excel, while covering topics like valuation (such as P/E ratios and DCF analysis), financial statements, and fundamentals of stock investing. Held over two weeks with three hours of daily live instruction, this class is ideal for high school students since it has no prerequisites.

NextGen Bootcamp also offers a FinTech Summer Program, covering Microsoft Excel, finance, stock market investing, and Python for data science. Created for beginners, this live virtual course will give students an advantage in future internships and college since they’ll be learning the skills that employers value. This course is basically the Excel, Finance, and Investing course mentioned above, with the addition of Python programming. You’ll study data science concepts using pandas, Matplotlib, and scikit-learn which will teach you how to input, analyze, and graph data.

How to Choose a Finance Class

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right finance class for you. The top factors are listed below, as well as some tips and tricks to help you make the best decision.

• Cost: The pricing of finance classes can vary widely so knowing your budget is essential. Some programs may offer financial assistance or payment plans as a way to make their training more accessible. You can also find free programs; however, these tend to be shorter and less in-depth.
• Duration: The length of a class can vary as well. They can be offered full-time or part-time. If you can’t attend a full-time course due to work, school, or other commitments, a part-time class may offer you more flexibility. If you want to learn finance while you’re on summer vacation or a holiday break, choosing a program that fits in that shorter window will be important.
• Level: If you’ve never studied finance before, a beginner-friendly class with no prerequisites will be ideal. Intermediate or advanced courses are designed for those who are familiar with the basic concepts and want to expand their knowledge with more complex topics. You’ll want to choose a course that challenges you but isn’t outside your capabilities.
• In-Person or Online: Choosing the right style of class matters, too. If you thrive in a structured classroom environment, start looking into in-person offerings. Online classes are ideal for those in need of more flexibility (whether that’s due to your schedule or your location) or those who prefer a more quiet, individual learning environment.