HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania ranked first in this year’s National Financial Capability Challenge, with 1,563 of participating students scoring in the top 20 percent, the Department of Banking said.
The Challenge is an annual, voluntary online competition designed to increase the financial literacy of students aged 13-19 by strengthening their knowledge of the basics of saving, budgeting and investing.
Pennsylvania also led the nation in the number of students participating in the competition (7,047) as well as the number of high schools (139) and teachers (200) participating. Pennsylvania students ranked fourth nationally in the number of perfect scores achieved (40).
“Pennsylvanians should be pleased that so many teachers and students take financial education seriously enough to participate in this contest,” said Secretary of Banking Glenn E. Moyer, who oversees Pennsylvania’s Office of Financial Education. “As young people become more financially literate, Pennsylvania will become economically stronger.”
Competitors answer questions on topics ranging from saving for college and retirement to managing expenses, concepts that demonstrate a basic understanding of personal finance. More than 84,000 students nationally took part in the competition.
The National Financial Capability Challenge is sponsored by the U.S. departments of Education and Treasury. Information about the contest is found online at www.challenge.treas.gov.
The Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education offers expertise to help employers, schools, and community groups better educate individuals and families. The office shows employers how to provide personal finance tips, tools and training to their employees; helps teachers incorporate personal finance principles into their courses; and provides assistance to community-based organizations to improve their delivery of high-quality financial education and counseling. For more information, visit www.moneysbestfriend.com.
Media contact: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721
Editor’s Note: Pennsylvania high schools that placed students in the top 20 percent of results are listed below (home-school programs listed separately below):
21st Century Cyber Charter School, Exton
Abington Heights High School, Clarks Summit
Abington Senior High School, Abington
Annville Cleona Secondary School, Annville
Avonworth High School, Pittsburgh
Beaver Area High School, Beaver
Big Spring High School, Newville
Bloomsburg High School, Bloomsburg
Bodine High School for International Affairs, Philadelphia
Carbondale Area High School, Carbondale
Cedar Cliff High School, Camp Hill
Central Bucks H.S. East, Doylestown
Central Bucks High School – South, Warrington
Central Bucks High School West, Doylestown
Central York High School, York
Chambersburg Area Senior High School, Chambersburg
Chestnut Ridge FBLA, New Paris
Clarion University TRIO Upward Bound, Clarion
Cocalico High School, Denver
Conestoga High School, Berwyn
Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster
Connellsville Area Senior High School, Connellsville
Council Rock High School North, Warminster
Council Rock High School South, Holland
Dallastown Area High School, Dallastown
Daniel Boone Area High School, Birdsboro
Dauphin County Technical School, Harrisburg
Delaware Valley High School, Milford
Delone Catholic High School, Mcsherrytown
Dover Area High School, Dover
Downingtown HS West Campus, Downingtown
East Stroudsburg High School North, Dingman’s Ferry
East Stroudsburg HS South, Milford
East Stroudsburg Senior High School South, East Stroudsburg
East Stroudsburg University Upward Bound, East Stroudsburg
Eastern York High School, Wrightsville
Elizabethtown Area High School, Elizabethtown
Ephrata High School, Ephrata
George Washington High School, Philadelphia
Governor Mifflin High School, Shillington
Hamburg Area High School, Hamburg
Hatboro-Horsham High School, Horsham
Haverford High School, Havertown
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School, Hollidaysburg
Huntingdon Area High School, Huntingdon
Indian Valley High School, Lewistown
Jersey Shore Senior High School, Williamsport
Juniata Valley School District, Alexandria
Kane Area School District, Kane
Lake-Lehman School District, Lehman
Leechburg Area High School, Leechburg
Little Flower High School, Philadelphia
Littlestown Senior High School, Littlestown
Lower Dauphin High School, Hummelstown
Mahanoy Area High School, Mahanoy City
Manheim Central High School, Manheim
Maplewood Jr/Sr High School, Guys Mills
Mars Area High School, Mars
Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus, Philadelphia
McDowell Senior High School, Erie
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High, Mechanicsburg
Milton Area High School, Milton
Montoursville High School, Montoursville
Mount St. Joseph Academy, Flourtown
Mount Union Area High School, Mount Union
Mt. Lebanon SHS, Pittsburgh
Mt. St. Joseph Academy, Flourtown
Mt. Union Area High School, Mt. Union
Muhlenberg High School, Laureldale
Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville
Neshaminy High School, Langhorne
Neshannock High School, New Castle
New Oxford High School, New Oxford
Norristown Area High School, Norristown
North Hills Senior High School, Pittsburgh
North Penn High School, Blossburg
North Penn High School, Lansdale
Northampton Area High School, Northampton
Northern High School, Dillsburg
Northwestern Lehigh High School, New Tripoli
Old Forge High School, Old Forge
Oxford Area High School, Oxford
Panther Valley High School, Lansford
Penn Trafford High School, Harrison City
Penncrest High School, Media
Pennridge School District, Perkasie
Phil-Mont Christian Academy, Erdenheim
Pine Grove Area High School, Pine Grove
Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia
Plum Senior High School, Pittsburgh
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Plymouth Meeting
Punxsutawney Area High School, Punxsutawney
Quakertown Community Senior High School, Quakertown
Radnor High School, Radnor
Redbank Valley High School, New Bethlehem
Renaissance Academy Charter School, Phoenixville
Ridley High School, Folsom
Selinsgrove High School, Selinsgrove
Seneca Valley High School, Harmony
Shalom Christian Academy, Chambersburg
Shippensburg High School, Shippensburg
Solanco High School, Quarryville
Souderton High School FBLA, Souderton
South Side High School, Hookstown
South Western High School, Hanover
South Williamsport Area Jr/Sr High School, South Williamsport
Spring Grove Area High School, Spring Grove
State College Area High School, State College
Sto-Rox High School, McKees Rocks
Stroudsburg Junior High School, Stroudsburg
Susquehannock High School, Glen Rock
TIU#11/YFC#3 School, James Creek
Trinity High School, Camp Hill
Tulpehocken High School, Bernville
Tunkhannock Area High School, Tunkhannock
Upper Darby High School, Drexel Hill
Upper St. Clair High School, Pittsburgh
Valley High School, New Kensington
Warren County AVTS, Warren
Warrior Run High School, Turbotville
West Philadelphia High School, Philadelphia
West York Area High School, York
William Penn Senior High School, York
Wyoming Valley West High School, Plymouth
York Suburban High School, York
Youngsville High School, Youngsville
Home-schooled students in the following programs also scored in the top 20 percent:
Bastian Home School, State College
Benham Homeschool, Bridgeville
Bolden Christian Academy, Boothwyn
Bright Home Academy, New Galilee
Evanko Homeschool, Warriors Mark
Excelsior Homeschool Academy, Macungie
Exodus HomeSchoolers, West Chester
Gamaliel School of Learning, Cheltenham
Hamilton Homeschool, Johnstown
HIS Academy, Chester Springs
Immaculata Academy Home School, Camp Hill
Johnson Christian Academy, Cranberry Township
Kardia, Kutztown
Kardia Learning Center, Mohrsville
Kershner Homeschool, Fleetwood
PA Homeschoolers, Canadensis
Troutman Homeschool, Montgomery
