With more than half of all states mandating personal finance education, equipping students with money skills has become a top priority in education.
Across the country, school districts are turning to EVERFI’s free turnkey financial literacy resources. In fact, more than 15,000 schools used EVERFI’s financial education resources in the ’24-’25 school year.
Let’s dive into the topics and the aggregated data of over 3 million students to see their impact on students and how you can bring them into your classroom.
- Forever First: Foundational Finance
- Crypto & Blockchain Education
- Building Credit Awareness
- Healthcare Literacy
- Financial Literacy for Younger Learners
- Why Educators Choose EVERFI Year after Year
The Power of Data: What 13,000+ Schools are Teaching
When it comes to understanding what’s happening in classrooms across the country, data helps tell a powerful story.
EVERFI’s platform does more than deliver award-winning financial literacy lessons; it offers a powerful lens into classroom priorities across the country.
With over 13,000 schools using EVERFI last year, we can see emerging trends and understand their impact on students in real time.
So, what are the most popular financial literacy topics of the ‘24-’25 school year?
Forever First: Foundational Finance
Used by over 650,000 students, EVERFI’s foundational personal finance resource: provides teachers with eleven turnkey lessons to implement into their lesson plans when needed.
Of the high schools implementing EVERFI – Financial Literacy for High School:
- Average pre-assessment score: 52% across eleven topic areas
- Proof that students need to be educated on personal finance.
- Lowest pre-assessment score: 41% in employment skills (understanding income, taxes, & benefits)
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 23% of high schoolers are employed. So, it makes complete sense that students don’t know how to read a paycheck or how to complete a W-4 form.
- Highest pre-assessment score: 64% in consumer skills
- It shouldn’t be a surprise the high schoolers scored highest in consumer skills, considering their years of experience spending their parents’ money. But a 64% average still lands in D territory, signaling a clear need for deeper learning & strong decision-making strategies when it comes to being informed consumers.
- Average learning gain: 28% across eleven topic areas
- Such a strong outcome is proof of what’s possible when engaging content meets great teaching. EVERFI’s real-world lessons give students the tools to think critically about money, and with the guidance of passionate educators, those lessons stick.
- Most taught foundational topics: banking, budgeting, & consumer skills
- It’s clear that educators are prioritizing the financial basics students will use first and most often. Banking, budgeting, and consumer skills are the foundation of everyday personal finance, making them a natural starting point for impactful financial education.
Mastering the basics is just the beginning.
Our data shows that as students master the foundational skills, teachers begin using EVERFI’s advanced lessons to explore more complex topics like cryptocurrency, building credit, and healthcare literacy.
In fact, usage of our advanced resources grew by 19% this year, reflecting a growing demand for deeper, more nuanced financial education.
Of the ten advanced financial literacy resources that EVERFI provides to high schools for free:
- Most popular advanced topic: understanding taxes
- Biggest increase in student usage: crypto, building credit awareness, & healthcare literacy
- Largest average learning gain: 42% in economics
Diving Deeper: Crypto & Blockchain Education
Cryptocurrency is no longer a fringe topic; it’s a mainstream conversation. Students are hearing about it from social media, family, and the news. But how much do they really understand?
Data shows that 96% of Americans lack basic crypto literacy. At the same time, 94% of crypto buyers are Gen Z or Millennials. Educating the next generation is essential to ensuring they are properly equipped to make informed and responsible decisions in the new digital economy.
While cryptocurrency has been around in the form of Bitcoin since 2009, 96% of Americans can’t correctly answer basic questions like:
- But what is it?
- How does it work?
- What are the benefits?
- What are the risks?
Couple that with the fact that Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to purchase crypto, great teachers know that it’s imperative that today’s students are ready to responsibly handle tomorrow’s currency.
That’s why use of our crypto foundations resource has experienced double-digit growth each of the last two school years.
Students and teachers want to know about crypto.
And EVERFI is here to help.
With Crypto Foundations, students are taken through interactive scenarios that empower them with the confidence to educate their parents on crypto and develop simple, actionable strategies to use in the new digital economy.
Crypto Foundations’ interactive lessons:
- Demystify the complexity of cryptocurrency
- Encourages critical thinking
- Connects classroom instruction to real-world trends
Want to strengthen cryptocurrency in your classroom? Get started today!
Diving Deeper: Building Credit Awareness
Credit is one of the most powerful tools students will use in adulthood and one of the easiest to misuse without the right knowledge.
As students begin to explore financial independence, many are eager to get a credit card without fully understanding how it works.
- 71% of students who took EVERFI’s Build: Credit Fundamentals course reported that they either already have a credit card or plan to open one soon.
- Yet, the average pre-assessment score was just 49%, with the lowest understanding in:
- Managing credit (36%)
- Addressing issues with credit (41%)
Teachers are recognizing the urgency of preparing students to:
- Evaluate credit offers
- Build and maintain healthy credit habits
- Avoid common pitfalls that can have long-term consequences
That’s why teachers used EVERFI’s Credit Fundamentals with 47% more students than last year.
Students aren’t just learning about credit; they’re also gaining the confidence to manage it wisely.
After completing the credit fundamentals resource:
- 35% average learning gain across all credit topics
- 29% more students now feel confident in their ability to build credit
- 47% more students feel equipped to evaluate credit offers
Credit decisions made in early adulthood can shape a student’s financial future for years to come. By teaching students how to grow and manage credit responsibly, educators are giving them the tools to unlock opportunities instead of falling into debt.
Diving Deeper: Healthcare Literacy
Despite its importance, health literacy remains a challenge for most adults in the U.S., with 88% lacking the skills to confidently manage their care and prevent illness.
While it’s true that most high school students won’t be selecting their own health insurance for several years, educators know that teaching healthcare literacy early is both timely and essential because:
- Heakth Decisions Start Now
- Even if students aren’t managing their own insurance yet, they’re already making health-related decisions like choosing to go to the doctor when they’re sick.
- Preventative Habits Are Formed Early
- Understanding the importance of preventative care can lead to healthier choices and fewer costly health issues later in life.
- Financial Implications Are Real
- Students who understand things like how insurance works and how to avoid unnecessary ER visits are better prepared to manage healthcare costs when they become financially independent.
- Empowerment Builds Confidence
- Understanding healthcare systems, terminology, and options helps students feel more in control of their wellbeing. That confidence can reduce anxiety, improve communication with providers, and lead to better outcomes both in terms of health and finances.
After completing EVERFI’s healthcare literacy resource:
- Students experienced an average learning gain of 36%
- 38% more students were confident in their understanding of what health insurance does and does not pay for
- 43% more students were confident in their ability to understand medical bills
- 16% more students were confident in their ability to schedule a doctor’s appointment
The numbers speak for themselves: students are learning, growing, and gaining confidence in navigating healthcare. As more teachers bring this resource into their classrooms, more students will be equipped to make smart, informed decisions about their health and finances.
That’s the kind of impact that lasts well beyond graduation.
Financial Literacy for Younger Learners: Elementary & Middle School Impact
Financial literacy isn’t just for high schoolers. In fact, the earlier students start learning about money, the better their long-term outcomes.
States and districts know this.
That’s why personal finance topics like wants, needs, and budgeting are being added to K-8 standards across the country.
That’s also why teachers used EVERFI’s age-appropriate personal finance lessons with almost 1 million elementary and middle school students.
A review of the young learners completing an EVERFI resource shows that:
- 68% more students feel prepared to set financial goals
- 49% more students feel prepared to budget
- 19% more students feel prepared to identify business opportunities
By teaching students to set goals, create budgets, and think like entrepreneurs early on, we help them view money as a tool they can control. With this strong foundation, they are better equipped to handle the complex financial lessons encountered in high school and beyond.
Why Educators Choose EVERFI Year After Year
EVERFI’s financial literacy suite isn’t just popular; it’s powerful. Here’s why teachers keep coming back:
What Sets EVERFI Apart:
- 100% Free: No cost, no catch.
- Easy To Use: Turnkey resources that give time back to teachers
- Standards Aligned: Meets state & national financial literacy standards
- Useful Content: Keeps students engaged with interactive lessons on real-life skills
Empowering the Next Generation of Financially Literate Citizens
Financial literacy is more than just a subject; it’s a vital life skill. With the right tools, educators have the power to make lasting impact.
EVERFI’s suite of financial literacy resources is helping teachers across the country prepare students for the real world, one lesson at a time.
As you plan for the next school year, know that EVERFI is here to help with award-winning resources and 24/7 support…all at no cost.
Want to learn more? You have options:
- Explore EVERFI’s financial literacy suite
- Teachers – Get registered & ready to use in under 5 minutes
- District Leaders – Get your district’s unique impact data & personalized support