A Menlo College pilot project seeks to help teens navigate the increasingly complicated world of finances while giving them a jump-start toward higher education.

Financial literacy is "way, way more important today than ever," Menlo President Timothy Haight said. "You need to be planning for your savings."

Today, Menlo is unveiling its partnership with the financial-services company Citi and the Sequoia Union High School District on a new program to educate high school students about budgeting, investing and other related subjects.

The program, "Learn and Invest for Tomorrow," offers two six-week sessions to about 30 students from Woodside High School, organizers said. Menlo professors and Citi executives will teach the course this spring and fall semester at the college.

The students will also learn banking products and services, ways to save their money and how to avoid predatory lending schemes, organizers said.