St. Joseph high school students are getting a real life lesson in economics.

A personal finance class is a graduation requirement for central students.

They learn how the stock market works by making mock investments.

The class competes against other students throughout Northwest Missouri.

But the goal is to teach these students how to budget their money.

"It's risky to play the stock market" said junior Jesse Johnson. "There are some groups that are down to $50,000 from $100,000."

Students wrap up the stock market game next month.