Seattle Public Schools

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Financial Literacy

CTE Financial Literacy

graduates smiling for the camera

Seattle Public Schools Career and Technical Education is committed to collaborating with other departments to provide students with foundational knowledge required to save, protect, and safely grow their wealth. Below is an overview of financial literacy opportunities for students in Seattle Public Schools and links to resources for interested educators, administrators, and families.

Middle School

Image of money and bitcoins

During Middle School as students’ math skills advance, activities involving budgeting and helping students prioritize how to allocate their money for different purposes. Students can begin to conceptualize budgetary constraints and create hierarchies of need to prioritize their spending. Students begin to think about careers, exploring CTE classes in tech, media arts, and more and learning about different ways that people can earn money. Middle School students may also learn about the basic concept of banks and the role they play in keeping money safe. Looking for activities for your middle school student, classroom, or school? See below!

Seattle Public Schools partners with EverFi, which offers training specific to Middle School and High School students. Learn more and access their free curriculum on the EverFi website.

High School

SPS students at DECA International competition

During High School, students begin to understand the current economy in greater depth. They have access to a series of advanced accounting and economics classes and begin to plan for post-secondary life (college, career, apprenticeship, military enlistment). In addition to student loans and simple interest, students should understand credit and advanced budgeting.

Career and Technical Education’s Career Connected Learning Coordinators provide students in Career Connects classes with EverFi financial training and certification.

Accessible through Clever, SchooLinks offers an interactive financial health mapping tool that teaches students essential money management skills based on income, education, and real life costs.

Students can find local scholarships through the WashBoard. Counselors and Community Partners provide FAFSA and WASFA support. SchooLinks also offers scholarship lists.