“100 Best W!se High Schools Teaching Personal Finance” Announced
Working in Support of Education (W!se) announced the 2025 “100 Best W!se High Schools Teaching Personal Finance” during a ceremony generously funded by lead sponsor, Voya Financial®. The Academies of West Memphis (AWM) ranked 3rd in the nation and 1st place in the state overall. This year’s top honor goes to Open High School in Richmond, Virginia.
Now in its 13th year, the “100 Best W!se High Schools Teaching Personal Finance” is the first and only national ranking of its type, recognizing excellence in personal finance instruction among W!se’s national network of schools that participate in its Financial Literacy Certification program.
AWM students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes are required to take End-of-Course (EOC) Certification Tests. Dr. Cheryl Ring is the Personal Finance instructor. Students participate yearly in the Arkansas Department of Education state approved W!SE Personal Finance Certification Test. This test is administered both on a National as well as State level.
“I cannot say enough about my students,” says Dr. Ring. “The philosophy in my classroom is that you do not work for money, but money works for you. I strongly believe that students need a sound foundation of the function of money before they transition into the real world. We cover all aspects of Finance from, budgeting, to life, health, car, and mortgage insurance.”
Overall Dr Ring says “I am so proud of all my student’s accomplishments. West Memphis is now on the national platform, and others are talking about our little town”. “I am also so appreciative of Principal Sloan and his leadership at the Academies of West Memphis High School. Our principal is not only personable but has a genuine concern for students’ wellbeing and academic success”.