Muskego High School Gets a $16K Grant to Help Students Become Financially Savvy

Muskego High School has been named among only six others in Wisconsin to share in $100,000 in grants from Discover’s Pathway to Financial Success program. The grants will help support the development of financial literacy courses for high school students.  

MHS received nearly $16,000 to cover the cost of enhanced classroom technology to integrate financial education content into several courses. The grant allows the school to utilize online financial education curriculum to supplement the existing curriculum, according to Discover spokesperson Danielle Chase.

Business instructor Katie Cortez said that this grant was the first that the school has received from the Pathway to Financial Success Program, and she already has decided where the money will be put to use.

"The grant is intended to purchase Microsoft Surfaces and a mobile charging cart," she explained. "Microsoft Surfaces are tablet PCs that the Business, Marketing, and Information Technology department intends to use in a variety of courses to support financial literacy among MHS students. The tablets will allow students to collaborate with classmates and complete hands-on activities by themselves."

A release from Discover also explained that Wisconsin is a state that can specifically benefit from the program and grant dollars because its curriculum requirements leave out personal finance education.

"Wisconsin does not require a personal finance course for high school graduation—in fact, only 14 states do. These grants will give the schools needed resources to give kids important information that they need—even beyond the state requirements," the release stated.

Discover explained that the statistics are also on their side, and the students win in high school and well afterward with financial education programs.

"A majority of Americans lack the knowledge to make good financial decisions. A recent study from Discover found high school seniors ranked personal finance as the most important subject for ensuring personal future success, tied with math," the release stated. "Also, the Department of the Treasury reported that graduates of high schools in which personal financial education is offered achieve higher savings rates and net worth than those graduating in states where financial education is not mandated."

In addition to MHS, Big Foot High School in Walworth, Neenah High School in Neenah, Bay Port High School in Green Bay, Waunakee High School in Waunakee and Waterloo High School in Waterloo will receive grants for financial education tools and technology.