NCCEE’s Academic Competitions

The Stock Market Game

2025-2026 Sessions:

• Fall Session: September 8 – December 5
• Yearlong Session: September 8 – April 10
• Spring Session: January 20 – April 10

The Stock Market Game™ (SMG) gives students the chance to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in a real-time portfolio while they compete against their peers across the state. They think they’re playing a game. We know they’re utilizing technology to improve math scores and learn economic, financial, and business concepts all while building 21st century skills that will last a lifetime. Follow up the SMG experience by entering InvestWrite, a national essay competition which adds a language arts and critical thinking component to the SMG experience.

To learn more about the SMG program, free workshops and webinars for teachers new to the program, click on workshops.

Fall and Spring Sessions cost $15/team for up to 5 members and year-long costs are $25/team for up to 5 members. Limited scholarship funding is available for participation at no cost to students in Title 1 schools, schools where greater than 50% of the population qualifies for free and reduced lunch, and on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Stock Market Game was made possible in part by generous funding from Coastal Credit Union Foundation and Ally Bank.

Capitol Hill Challenge

The Capitol Hill Challenge of the Stock Market Game pairs members of Congress with teams of students in their home districts. The Capitol Hill Challenge is available by invitation only. Read more about the Challenge as well as program guidelines and rules here.

InvestWrite

Enhance the SMG experience through writing that will exercise critical thinking skills. Your students have entered the world of business and finance by participating in The Stock Market Game™ program. The perfect companion to the Stock Market Game™, our teacher-designed writing component and competition reinforces their newfound knowledge and hones critical thinking skills. Teachers participating in the SMG program will receive an invitation to submit student essays during the competition window.

Economics Challenge

The National Economics Challenge is a state, regional and national competition for high school students designed to increase their understanding of and interest in economics and finance. Students compete in teams for a chance to win prizes and a trip to New York City to compete in the national finals.

NC Personal Finance Challenge

The Personal Finance Challenge is a state and national competition for middle and high school students designed as an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of Personal Finance by competing with other students across the state in a web-based multiple-choice examination. Middle school students compete statewide and high school students compete for a chance to advance to the state championship round and ultimately the national competition.