Research fundamentals
Learn how to understand a business, read financial information, and identify the few facts that matter.
Management
High school finance club network
Research with rigor.
Compete with conviction.
Maryland Capital Management helps high school students build competition-ready investment ideas, sharpen their financial judgment, and lead strong finance clubs at their schools.
BUILT BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
RESEARCHMODELDEFEND
MCM FINANCE CLUB
CHAPTERS OPEN
6 active high school chapters.Montgomery County roots.Competition-focused training.
High school opportunities
WHARTON×ESSAY×STOCK PITCH×CASE COMP×PORTFOLIO
Built for high school
Learn finance by
doing the work.
MCM gives high school students a structured path from first investment idea to polished competition submission. Chapters meet consistently, form teams, and learn through practice.
Competition readiness
Turn research into a clear thesis, presentation, and written submission built around real deadlines.
Student leadership
Run meetings, recruit teammates, and build a chapter that creates opportunities for students across your school.
High school competitions
that open doors.
Explore nine investment, economics, writing, and business competitions. Dates checked September 5, 2026; unannounced seasons and tentative dates are labeled below.
Portfolio · 2026–27 · Registration open
Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Develop a client-focused investment strategy, manage a simulated portfolio, and defend your recommendations. Judging rewards strategy and reasoning—not simply the highest returns.
- Key dates
- Register by Sep 11, 2026, 5 p.m. ET. Trading: Sep 28–Dec 4. Roster: Oct 9; investment policy statement: Nov 6; final report: Dec 4 (all 5 p.m. ET). Finale: Apr 29–30, 2027.
- Who can enter
- Grades 9–12; 4–6 students with a teacher from their school. Team leader must be 16 by Sep 28, 2026. Advisor registers the team.
- Format
- Online; finalist events in Philadelphia.
- Cost
- Free entry.
StrategyPortfolioResearch
Economics · 2026–27 · Maryland schedule posted
National Economics Challenge (NEC)
Test microeconomics, macroeconomics, and global-economy knowledge, then apply economic reasoning in team presentations and quiz rounds. Maryland teams start with the state challenge.
- Key dates
- Maryland online testing: Mar 15–31, 2027. State finals: spring 2027; national semifinals: April; national finals: May. Exact finals dates pending.
- Who can enter
- High-school teams with an advisor. Review current team-size and Adam Smith / David Ricardo division rules before registration.
- Format
- Online qualifier, then state and national advancement.
- Cost
- Confirm current entry requirements with MCEE.
EconomicsQuiz bowlAnalysis
Case · 2026–27 · Maryland schedule posted
National Personal Finance Challenge
Apply budgeting, saving, investing, credit, and risk-management knowledge to a family's financial situation. Build and present a financial plan; qualifying starts in Maryland.
- Key dates
- Maryland testing: Dec 9–18, 2026 OR Mar 15–31, 2027; each student may enter only one window. State finals: April 2027. National date expected from the organizer in late fall 2026.
- Who can enter
- High-school teams with a coach. Latest national rules (2026): 3–4 students; recheck when 2027 rules appear.
- Format
- Online test; Maryland finalists compete in Baltimore; state winner advances nationally.
- Cost
- Maryland registration is free.
Personal financePlanningPresentation
Research · 2026–27 · Announcement pending
Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC)
Choose an economics prompt and construct a focused, evidence-based argument of around 1,500 words. Organized by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA).
- Key dates
- Tentative organizer window: prompts in Oct–Nov 2026, submissions in Jan 2027, results in spring. Exact deadlines and new rules have not been published.
- Who can enter
- Individual students in grades 9–12 worldwide.
- Format
- Written essay submitted online; subscribe on the organizer's page for the opening announcement.
- Cost
- 2026–27 fee not yet confirmed.
EconomicsWritingResearch
Pitch · Next season unannounced · Prior cycle closed
HUCP High School Investment Pitch Competition
Research an existing private company and pitch an investment recommendation to student and venture-capital judges. Organized by Harvard Undergraduate Capital Partners; this is a private-company pitch, not a public-stock contest.
- Key dates
- Latest published cycle: registration Nov 23, 2025; first submission Dec 20, 2025; second round Jan 18, 2026; finals Feb 2026. No 2026–27 dates posted.
- Who can enter
- Prior-cycle rules: grades 8–12; teams of 2–4, including mixed-school teams.
- Format
- Virtual. Prior first round: up to 15 slides or a 5-page investment memo, followed by video and live rounds.
- Cost
- Prior-cycle team fee: $80 / $100 / $120 for 2 / 3 / 4 students. New fees pending.
ValuationVenture capitalPitch
Research · 2026–27 · Schedule posted
High School Fed Challenge
Collaborate on original economic research for a chance to publish in the Federal Reserve's Journal of Future Economists. The program recognizes selected research rather than naming one winning team.
- Key dates
- Theme and registration open Sep 10, 2026. Register by Feb 15, 2027; paper due Mar 15; publication decisions May 14. Posted deadline time: 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Who can enter
- National high-school program; one team and one submission per school. Faculty advisor registers with a principal acknowledgement.
- Format
- Remote research submission. The page still displays 2025–26 rules and theme; wait for the new rulebook before choosing the topic or submission format.
- Cost
- Confirm requirements in the upcoming rulebook.
EconomicsDataWriting
Portfolio · 2026–27 · Sessions posted
The Stock Market Game — Maryland
Practice investing with a virtual $100,000 portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. SIFMA Foundation's simulation is administered locally by the Maryland Council on Economic Education.
- Key dates
- Yearlong: Sep 8, 2026–Apr 9, 2027. Fall: Oct 5–Dec 11, 2026. Spring: Feb 8–Apr 16, 2027. These are session dates; check registration availability with MCEE.
- Who can enter
- Grades 4–12, including high-school teams; register through the Maryland program.
- Format
- Online team portfolio simulation with state recognition.
- Cost
- Free to most K–12 schools; confirm your school's eligibility.
PortfolioTeamworkMarkets
Pitch · 2027 · Schedule posted
Diamond Challenge
Develop an original business or social venture with the University of Delaware's Horn Entrepreneurship program. Submit a 3–5-page concept narrative and a 60-second introduction video, then pitch if selected.
- Key dates
- Submission window opens Sep 16, 2026; deadline Jan 14, 2027, 5 p.m. EST. Advancing teams: Feb 10; finalists: Mar 9; summit: Apr 29–30, 2027.
- Who can enter
- Teams of 2–4 high-school students, ages 14–18 at the deadline, plus an adult advisor age 21+. International entries welcome.
- Format
- Business or social innovation track; live or virtual pitch-round option. Check finalist attendance requirements.
- Cost
- Review organizer terms and any travel costs before entering.
EntrepreneurshipStrategyPitch
Case · 2026 · Registration open
Harvard Student Agencies Case Competition
Analyze a business case, propose a strategy, and communicate your solution through a submission and video pitch. Run by Harvard Student Agencies, a student-operated organization.
- Key dates
- Standard registration ends Sep 30; final registration Oct 17. Round 1 due Oct 31; video pitch Nov 22; results Dec 6, 2026. Submission deadlines: 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Who can enter
- Individual entry only; must be enrolled in high school on Dec 31, 2026.
- Format
- Online submissions, video pitch, and livestreamed awards.
- Cost
- $10 standard registration; $15 last-call registration from Oct 1.
Case analysisStrategyPresentation
Source: each organizer’s linked competition page. This is a September 5, 2026 planning snapshot, not a live calendar. Confirm rules, fees, dates, and availability before registering. Harvard-named events listed here are run by their respective student organizations. MCM does not organize or endorse these external events.
Our chapter network
Six schools.
One standard.
Our first chapters are led by high school students across Montgomery County. Each school brings its own community while sharing MCM training, competition resources, and expectations.
Active chapter
Wootton High School
Montgomery County, MarylandActive chapter
Churchill High School
Montgomery County, MarylandActive chapter
Walter Johnson High School
Montgomery County, MarylandActive chapter
Montgomery Blair High School
Montgomery County, MarylandActive chapter
Clarksburg High School
Montgomery County, MarylandActive chapter
North West High School
Montgomery County, MarylandBuild at your high school
Your school.
Our playbook.
Founding a chapter brings structured competition training, student leadership, and a growing peer network to your high school.
See if you are a fit →Apply
Tell us about your high school, your founding team, and why MCM should exist there.
Launch
Use the chapter kit to recruit members, run your first meeting, and build competition teams.
Compete
Train with the shared calendar, cross-school scrimmages, and feedback from the network.
Lead
Grow the club, develop future officers, and leave a durable program at your school.
Start a high school chapter
Bring MCM
to your school.
We are looking for high school students who are curious, coachable, and ready to build something that lasts.
✓Open to students in grades 9-12✓No prior finance club required✓Two committed founding members recommended