Students invested a virtual $100,000
At Morton Elementary, sixth graders weren’t just learning about money this fall – they were making it grow!
By the end of the semester, their smart decisions paid off. Morton Elementary sixth grade gifted and talented students earned first place at the middle school level in the Fall 2025 Stock Market Game, a statewide competition that introduces students to real-world investing and personal finance.
Presented by the SIFMA Foundation, the Stock Market Game gives students a virtual $100,000 to invest using real-time market data. Teams study market trends, follow global news, and adjust their strategies throughout the competition while learning about capital markets, asset allocation, and long-term financial planning.
For Morton Elementary Principal Leigh Adams, the win reflects both academic growth and confidence in her students.
“As the proud principal at Morton, I am absolutely bursting-at-the-seams proud,” she said. “Seeing our students tackle real-world concepts that usually make adults break into a cold sweat is nothing short of inspiring. They didn’t just participate – they owned it.”
The opportunity began in the classroom, where gifted and talented teacher Jennifer Riley introduced the game to her sixth-grade students to make math more meaningful and engaging.
“She wanted a way to make numbers feel real rather than just symbols on a worksheet,” Adams said. “The classroom turned into a collaborative trading floor. This was a great example of providing ‘high-floor, no-ceiling’ opportunities that challenge students and keep them engaged.”
During the competition, students managed diversified portfolios that included stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. They worked together to analyze performance, make decisions, and adjust their strategies – sometimes from the bottom of the leaderboard.
“We feel satisfied because we were tough throughout the game and eventually came out first place,” said sixth grader Aylin Hernandez. “Our team was at the bottom of the leaderboard most of the competition, but we persevered and never lowered our efforts.”
Along the way, students developed skills that go far beyond investing.
“This wasn’t just about picking stocks,” Adams said. “Our students showed strong critical thinking, mathematical precision, collaboration, and patience – skills that many adults spend years trying to master.”
Students also walked away with valuable lessons about money.
“We learned you have to be willing to take risks and invest all your money,” said team member Ernesto Teran. “Leaving money uninvested will not return anything.”
And while the learning was serious, the experience was fun, too.
“Our favorite part was watching our portfolio go up,” said team member Adrian Rodriguez. “The best part was winning at the end and celebrating together in class.”
The team’s success didn’t go unnoticed. Last week, they were recognized at an Arlington ISD Board of Trustees meeting, where trustees celebrated their first-place finish and the hard work that led to it.
The Stock Market Game supports Texas academic standards and STEM goals, helping students build skills in math, economics, language arts, and social studies while also strengthening teamwork, planning, and financial responsibility.
For Morton Elementary students, the experience proved one thing: with the right opportunities and support, Arlington ISD students are ready to take on real-world challenges!
Congratulations Stock Game Winners!