Talks of class ranks and GPA make it clear that students care about numbers. But when it comes to dollars and cents, many students don’t know how to make sense. 

If high school is about preparing students for their futures by teaching them the essential real-world skills needed in life, financial literacy classes should be added to the list of mandatory classes needed to graduate.

While electives can be interesting, most do not teach the crucial life skills students need after graduation. Instead of prioritizing specialized courses, like languages, sports, or even fine arts, schools should require classes like personal finance and business, directly preparing students for real-world responsibilities.

One major problem with the current school system is that many students graduate without understanding basic financial concepts. Most young adults don’t understand how to file taxes, build credit, or manage a budget. This lack of financial literacy can lead to life-altering problems later in life, such as debt, poor credit scores, and financial stress.

Now, one could argue that parents should teach these skills to their children, but isn’t a school’s main purpose to prepare you and give you the education needed to succeed in your adult life?

Schools should take responsibility for teaching students these skills before they enter adulthood by replacing certain electives, like a language course, with year-long courses in financial literacy.

Schools should prioritize teaching life skills over offering too many electives and making students take specialized classes that have a minimal effect on their future. Students deserve an education that prepares them for adult life, not just exams. Making classes in finance and business mandatory in high school will prevent young people from making financial mistakes, setting them up for success.