New Hampshire high schools are making gains in providing more opportunities for students to learn and understand personal finance, according to a study by the the NH Jump$tart Coalition, an organization that works to promote financial literacy among young people.

The coalition looked at the personal finance curriculum and graduation requirements of all 79 public high schools in New Hampshire.

The state’s Curriculum Frameworks Standard specifies that in order to graduate high school a student must be able to explain the importance of money management, spending, credit, saving and investing in a freemarket economy.

While the study reveals progress, many schools still do not require students to pass a class in personal finance to graduate from their school district, the coalition said. According to Jump$tart, in 2013, only three public high schools in New Hampshire met the state minimum requirement in economics and required students to pass a half-credit class in personal finance to graduate. The 2021 study revealed that number is now up to 10 that now require students to pass a separate course in personal finance to graduate. The 10 schools are: Bedford High School; Belmont High School; Bow High School; Colebrook Academy; Gorham High School; Hinsdale High School; Newfound Regional High School in Bristol; Pelham High School; Profile High School in Bethlehem; and Woodsville High School.

Key findings of the study are:

• 68 percent of New Hampshire public high schools clearly offer a personal finance course as an elective, in addition to meeting the state requirement for economics.

• 13 percent of New Hampshire public high schools clearly require a standalone course in personal finance for graduation.

• 6 percent of New Hampshire public high schools clearly require economics only.

“We are encouraged by the progress being made in our schools, and we believe New Hampshire can take a leadership role in educating students on managing money,” said Dan Hebert, president of NH Jump$tart. “We have students who want to learn, educators prepared to teach them and resources available, but it starts at home. We urge parents to take an interest in modeling and teaching financial responsibility at home and advocating for financial education in their school districts.”

To view the full 2021 Report on New Hampshire Public High Schools, visit nhjumpstart.org.