Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $550,000 to Gateway Cities to Boost FAFSA Completion for Schools in Massachusetts
BOSTON – The
Healey-Driscoll Administration is providing grants to more than 100
Massachusetts public schools serving Gateway Cities to help high school seniors
complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These grants,
totaling more than $550,000, follow an announcement that the state’s priority
deadline to apply for Massachusetts financial aid via MASSGrant has been
extended from May 1 to July 1, 2024. The awards today are also intended to
support schools amid unique nationwide challenges with this year’s FAFSA. As of
April 2024, 168,489 students or prospective students in Massachusetts have
completed the FAFSA, a decrease from 232,560 in April 2023.
“We want high school seniors to know that there
is still time to complete the FAFSA and pursue higher education this coming
fall,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These additional funds will
help reach students who have yet to complete the FAFSA but who aspire to attend
college and may benefit from the significant financial aid programs available
in Massachusetts.”
“These grants allow us to support schools in a
final push to reach seniors before they graduate,” said Lieutenant
Governor Kim Driscoll. “Students may have considered a college
education but not begun or completed the FAFSA. We know how dedicated our
school counselors are to helping these students, and the Administration is
working to support them through these funds and by shifting the priority
deadline for state financial aid.”
The FAFSA completion grants will be issued to
public high schools at which 70 percent or more of the students served are from
Gateway Cities. The funds are also granted to Massachusetts high schools taking
part in the federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate
Programs (GEAR UP) program. High schools will receive grant amounts equal to
$30 per 12th grader.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration has made
historic investments in financial aid, but for many students the challenges of
FAFSA completion pose barriers to accessing that aid,” said Secretary
of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “It’s not too late for high school
seniors to complete the FAFSA, and these grants support schools’ ongoing
efforts to help students attend college affordably in the upcoming academic
year.”
The grant funds for schools are being
distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in
collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. School
leaders and counselors can dedicate grant money to FAFSA completion events or
celebrations, and they can purchase prizes such as gifts cards and
school-branded merchandise for students who complete the FAFSA or the
Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). Students who cannot complete the FAFSA
due to their citizenship status should complete the MASFA.
“Students who complete the FAFSA by July 1 and
qualify for need-based financial aid are guaranteed some financial support to
attend college,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “We
encourage students not to leave money on the table. We hope these grants will
provide schools with meaningful support as they work with students who have yet
to apply for financial aid, but who have the talent and drive to succeed in
college.”
“We hope schools will use these grants to help
encourage students to fill out the FAFSA or MASFA and take that concrete step
toward college,” said Russell D. Johnston, acting commissioner of
elementary and secondary education. “While many students may have
already applied for financial aid, there is still money available.”
Along with the later statewide deadline for
FAFSA completion, colleges and universities are also moving their deposit
deadlines to accommodate students who have yet to apply or have not received
financial aid packages that are crucial making college-going decisions.
Students should check college or university websites or reach out directly to
individual campuses for information about deadlines.
Massachusetts public schools receiving funds to
support FAFSA completion:
District |
Award
Amount |
Attleboro |
Attleboro
Community Academy: $570; Attleboro High: $12,690; Attleboro Virtual Academy:
$390 |
Barnstable |
Barnstable
High: $9,660 |
Brockton |
Brockton
High: $19,980; Brockton Virtual Learning Academy: $450; Edison Day Academy:
$600; Edison Evening Academy: $1,680; Huntington Therapeutic Day School:
$300; New Heights Charter School of Brockton (District): $2,190 |
Chelsea |
Chelsea
High: $10,320; Chelsea Opportunity Academy: $2,250; Chelsea Virtual Learning
Academy: $510; Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School: $390 |
Chicopee |
Chicopee
Academy: $300; Chicopee Comprehensive High School: $8,490; Chicopee High:
$6,480; Hampden Charter School of Science East: $1,650 |
East Boston |
East
Boston HS- GEAR UP students only: $5,130 |
Everett |
Devens
School: $150; Everett High: $14,940; Pioneer Charter School of Science:
$1,140 |
Fall River |
Argosy
Collegiate Charter School: $1,560; Atlantis Charter (District): Atlantis
Charter School: $1,560; B.M.C. Durfee High: $14,700; Diman Regional
Vocational Technical High, $7,440; Resiliency Preparatory Academy, $1,680;
Stone PK-12 School, $240 |
Fitchburg |
Fitchburg
High, $7,770; Goodrich Academy, $2,610; Sizer School: A North Central Charter
Essential School, $990 |
Haverhill |
Gateway
Academy, $300; Greenleaf Academy, $90; Haverhill High, $13,980 |
Holyoke |
Holyoke
High, $12,210 |
Lawrence |
Greater
Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical, $11,400; High School Learning Center,
$4,350; Lawrence High School, $21,630; Phoenix Academy Public Charter High
School, Lawrence, $180; RISE Academy, $840 School for Exceptional Studies,
$330 |
Leominster |
Center
For Technical Education Innovation, $3,660; Leominster Center for Excellence,
$840; Leominster High School, $8,880; Leominster Personalized Virtual
Learning Academy (LPVLA), $120 |
Lowell |
Collegiate
Charter School of Lowell, $750; Dr. Janice Adie Day School, $120; Greater
Lowell Regional Vocational Technical, $13,380; Leblanc Therapeutic Day
School, $270; Lowell High, $22,890; Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School,
$870; The Career Academy, $960 |
Lynn |
Classical
High, $10,590; Fecteau-Leary Junior/Senior High School, $750; KIPP Academy
Lynn Charter School, $3,570; Lynn English High, $14,520; Lynn Vocational
Technical Institute, $7,920 |
Malden |
Malden
High, $13,170 |
Methuen |
Methuen
High, $13,830 |
New Bedford |
Global
Learning Charter Public School, $750; Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational
Technical, $10,980; New Bedford High, $18,120 |
Peabody |
Peabody
Personalized Remote Education Program (Peabody P.R.E.P.), $570; Peabody
Veterans Memorial High, $8,820 |
Pittsfield |
Eagle
Education Academy, $30; Pittsfield High, $5,400; Taconic High, $5,670 |
Quincy |
North
Quincy High, $10,980; Quincy High, $10,740 |
Revere |
CityLab
Innovation High School, $540; Revere High, $12,270 |
Salem |
New
Liberty Innovation School, $600; Salem Academy Charter School, $1,890; Salem
High, $6,360; Salem Prep High School, $30 |
Springfield |
Baystate
Academy Charter Public School, $1,530; Conservatory of the Arts, $1,290;
Gateway to College at Holyoke Community College, $420; Gateway to College at
Springfield Technical Community College, $330; High School of Commerce,
$7,020; John J. Duggan Academy, $1,950; Liberty Preparatory Academy, $30;
Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School, Springfield, $300; Roger L.
Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, $9,330; Springfield Central High,
$16,050; Springfield High School, $2,880; Springfield High School of Science
and Technology, $5,730; Springfield International Academy at Sci-Tech, $30;
Springfield International Charter School, $2,700; Springfield Public Day High
School, $180; The Springfield Renaissance School an Expeditionary Learning
School, $1,860; The Springfield Virtual School, $630 |
Taunton |
Taunton
Alternative High School, $2,310; Taunton High, $13,680; Taunton Public
Virtual Academy (TPVA), $180 |
Westfield |
Westfield
High, $7,470; Westfield Technical Academy, $3,300; Westfield Virtual School,
$450 |
West Springfield |
Hampden
Charter School of Science West, $1,020 |
Worcester |
Abby
Kelley Foster Charter Public School, $2,340; Burncoat Senior High, $8,970;
Claremont Academy, $2,070; Doherty Memorial High, $9,270 North
High, $9,930; South High Community, $12,960; University Park Campus School,
$1,350; Worcester Technical High, $9,780 |
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