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Project Description
Welcome to the High Tech Middle Chula Vista Stewardship project, a year long simulation that aims to mimic real life financial situations for students in order for them to learn and apply math in their financial decision making. Below you will find information about the various parts of our project.
Starting wealth
Our team's starting wealth of $100,000 was distributed in proportion to current wealth inequality in America. This meant that
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1% of our students (1 student) started out with 40% of the wealth
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80% of our students had to divide up only 7% of the wealth
Income
Students earn income by:
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doing their classwork
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investing
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starting a business
Gender Wage Gap
In order to mimic the gender wage gap that exists in the US, according to the 2020 US Census Report (page 11 or page 19 of the PDF)...
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half of the students will receive 83% of the income that their classmates receive.
Housing
Rent
In order to authentically feel the costs of rent in the United States, students use the real estate website, Zillow and search for...
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1 bedroom or studios if they choose to "live" alone.
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2+ bedroom places if they choose to "live" with roommates
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We have searched U.S. cities that include, but not limited to...
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San Diego, CA
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Bay Area, CA
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Washington, DC
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New York, NY
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Chicago, IL
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Houston, TX
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Denver, CO
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Los Angeles, CA
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Miami, FL
Taxes
Income Tax
Students calculate taxes based on their monthly income. We follow the U.S. Income Tax brackets and the "bucket" system.
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Students pay 10% of their first $1,000
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Students pay 12% of their next $3,000 (after the initial $1,000)
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Students pay 24% of their next $4,500 (after the initial $1,000 and next $3,000)
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Below is an example of the income tax form.
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Life Cycle
The life cycle is mean to mimic life's unexpected health, auto and home costs. Students gather data of real prices for auto, health and home items that would possibly be purchased.
Students will spin the randomized life cycle each month. Whatever the situation the life cycle lands on, students will either pay the costs directly or have purchased insurance prior to cover the costs.
Student businesses
Student businesses - insurance
Students have the opportunity to start their own insurance business
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Student entrepreneurs set their own insurance prices for
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auto insurance​
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home insurance
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health insurance
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"bundles" - combining insurances
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Student customers get to shop around
Investing
Stocks
Students "buy" stocks in our online banking system and track the progress the decline and growth of the stock, calculating percent of change.
Below is an example of a student's stock percent change slide.
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Bank account
My kids bank
Students use the online bank account, mykidsbank.org, a free educational online account designed to teach personal finance.
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Thank you to My Kids Bank for providing this service!