For Immediate Release:
April 13, 2026
New York, NY – Today, Working in Support of Education (W!se) announced the 2026 “100 Best W!se High Schools Teaching Personal Finance,” recognizing schools that are leading the way in preparing students for real-world financial success.
This year’s top honor goes to Academies of West Memphis from West Memphis, Arkansas.
The other schools ranked in the top five are:
- Sampson Early College High School, Clinton, NC
- Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne, NJ
- High School for Math, Science and Engineering at CCNY, New York, NY
- Gaynor McCown ELS, Staten Island, NY
Now in its 14th year, the “100 Best” ranking remains the first and only national recognition of its kind, honoring excellence in personal finance education among schools participating in W!se’s Financial Literacy Certification program.
The ranking was announced at the Voya Financial® Ceremony which was held at the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in New York City. The ceremony was generously supported by lead sponsor, Voya Financial®. Attendees included representatives, Dan O’Grady, Regional Vice President of Sales, Tatyana Kibrik, Chief Technology Officer at Voya Investment Management and W!se Board member, and Andrew Harrison, Program Manager Voya Foundation and Corporate Responsibility.
Gerri Walsh, Retired Senior Vice President, Investor Education, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) was the featured speaker, with a special message of congratulations from Frank Morano, New York City Council Member.
“The 100 Best recognizes the contributions of the many leaders involved in bringing high quality financial literacy education to our kids,” said Braeden Mayrisch, Vice President of Impact and Culture at Voya Financial and Vice President of Voya Foundation. “We are grateful to W!se, the administrators, educators and students at these schools, and many others who invest the time in bringing such critical concepts to life with this much success.”
In addition to the overall ranking, W!se recognized:
- Highest Climber Award: Greensville County High School, Emporia, VA
- Highest Ranked First-Time School: Wilson Early College Academy, Wilson, NC
- Crystal Awards:
- #1 Small Sized School: Sampson Early College High School, Clinton, NC
- #1 Midsize School: Academies of West Memphis, West Memphis, AR
- #1 Large School: Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne, NJ
- Outstanding Educator Award: Robert Trialonas, Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School
“Congratulations to this years’ 100 Best Schools and for your success in equipping students with the knowledge and skills to lead a life of financial wellbeing,” said David Anderson, President and CEO of W!se. “Special thanks to Voya Financial®, for its longtime sponsorship and support.”
The “100 Best” schools participate in W!se’s Financial Literacy Certification program. Through this award-winning program, W!se provides instructional resources to support personal finance instruction at schools in 49 states and then administers the W!se Financial Literacy Certification Test. Students who pass the test become Certified Financially Literate™ (CFL), a nationally recognized credential. The “100 Best” schools ranking is based on the average test score from each school with consideration given to the number of test takers and the socio-economic background of the students at each school.
View the complete list of this year’s 100 Best schools.
About Working in Support of Education (W!se)
Working in Support of Education (W!se) is a leading educational nonprofit based in New York City with a mission to improve economic mobility through programs that develop financial literacy and readiness for college and careers. For more information, visit wise-ny.org. Follow W!se on social media @wisenewyork.
About Voya Financial®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) is a leading retirement, employee benefits and investment management company. Voya’s services and solutions help clear the path to financial confidence and a more fulfilling life for individual, workplace and institutional clients, supporting more than 18 million customer relationships. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya fosters a culture that values customer centricity, integrity, accountability, agility and inclusivity. Together with customers and partners, Voya employees fight for everyone’s opportunity for a better financial future. For more information visit voya.com and follow Voya Financial on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.