Chelan, Manson students focus on financial literacy

Chelan Middle School students in Mrs. Froman’s class work on an exercise to develop what their personal finances will look like when they are 25.

Students in the Lake Chelan  and Manson School Districts are learning how to manage money, plan for the future, and make financial decisions.

Financial literacy at Chelan Middle School is helping students explore how money works and why it matters.

Students learn how to comparison shop, use coupons, read receipts, and explore various types of payments, balance a checkbook, creating personal budgets  and to understanding loans and credit.

At Chelan Middle School, the Financial Fitness elective is helping students explore how money works and why it matters. Taught by educators Melanie Froman and Bert Granados, the class begins with a focus on how financial decision-making affects everyday life and future plans.

Students learn how to comparison shop, use coupons, read receipts, and explore various types of payments. They also gain practical experience by learning how to write checks, balance a checkbook, and develop their own personal signature. For many, this is their first exposure to cursive writing, making the activity both educational and entertaining.

At Chelan High School, students take financial literacy to the next level in the Surviving on Your Own course, taught by Jeff Pearl. The class is focused on preparing students for adult responsibilities, from creating personal budgets to understanding loans and credit.

Students begin by budgeting for basic needs such as food, gas, utilities, car insurance, rent, and emergency expenses. They learn to distinguish between needs and wants, and how to make adjustments when money is tight. These practical exercises help students plan for stability and independence after high school.

The class also explores how credit scores affect interest rates and financing. Students analyze real-world scenarios like purchasing a car or a home, learning how small changes in credit history or loan rates can significantly impact long-term costs. The concept of renting versus owning a home is also examined, with

students discussing financial, lifestyle, and maintenance considerations involved in each option.

FinCap Fridays and interactive projects remain a key part of the high school curriculum as well, offering students regular opportunities to reflect on financial news, trends, and personal decision-making.

There’s also a stock market project, where students choose a publicly traded company to monitor over the course of a month. Each student presents a “Stock Talk” to the class, sharing how the company is performing and why. The project connects economic concepts to real-world trends and current events, while building public speaking and critical thinking skills.

The financial literacy programs at both Chelan Middle School and Chelan High School reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for life beyond graduation.

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

The Lake Chelan School District says it supports intentionally guided pathways that lead to student success.

Manson schools celebrated "Millionaires Week."

"All grade levels in our elementary are taught financial literacy," Superintendent Tabatha Mires said. "Kids learning about money, about savings. There's a lesson on if you save a penny a day and double it everyday, how much you'll have."

"I heard anecdotally from a parent who said my child came home and said, I'm going to save a penny a day, I'm going to double it and be a millionaire when I retire," Mires added.

Read more about what's going on in Lake Chelan Schools here, and Manson Schools here.