Baltimore County Public School students learn about business and finance with a new classroom

RANDALLSTOWN, Md. - Here at Randallstown High School it's not exactly Wall Street, but close enough.  It's part of the Academy of Finance New Stock Exchange classroom.

"This is really hands on and it will teach students a way to invest in the future," said Pat France with the Academy of Finance.

The Stock Exchange classroom is a couple of weeks old.  It's the first one in Baltimore County Public Schools and fourth in the nation.

The Stock Exchange Classroom has a ticker board that shows share prices and flat screen televisions that shows global activity.

"We are looking to elevate students thinking and encourage thinking outside the box.  We want them to learn about business and finance and how to invest how to make money," said Erik Grooms, Director of Academy of Finance Program Baltimore County Public Schools.

Brian McNair plans to attend Stevenson University next year and major in business administration.  He's excited to be a part of this cutting edge education.

"This experience showed me how to manage my money and also how to manage my business.  If I am ever in need of extra money, I know I could invest in the stock market because of  this experience," said Brian McNair, Senior at Randallstown High School.

Brian is not alone in his excitement.  The new class is creating a buzz among students.

"It's going very well.  Students that are not part of the program are peaking in the classroom trying to find out what is going on," said Grooms.

Educators hope to expose students to the world of business and economics, giving them the tools to be successful in any career path.

Academy of Finance is a nationally recognized program.  There are three programs in Baltimore County Public Schools including, Landsdowne, Overlea and Randallstown.