Celebrating high FAFSA completion rates across Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Dec. 16, 2021) – Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit that breaks down barriers to prosperity, today announced that 213 schools will receive the Best Hustle Award for successfully improving their early Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion by at least 10 percent from 2020 to 2021. Early completion is defined as completion during the first two months of the FAFSA cycle (i.e., October 1 to December 1). Schools that earned this recognition include:
Abbeville High School
Addison High School
Alabama Christian Academy
Alabama Virtual Academy at Eufaula City Schools
Albertville High School
Alexandria High School
Aliceville High School
Alma Bryant High School
Andalusia High School
Anniston High School
Arab High School
Ariton School
Asbury High School
Ashford High School
Athens High School
Auburn High School
Austin High School
Baldwin County Virtual School
Barbour County High School
BB Comer Memorial High School
Benjamin Russell High School
Bessemer City High School
Beulah High School
Bibb County High School
Billingsley High School
Boaz High School
Bob Jones High School
Brilliant School
Brindlee Mountain High School
Brooks High School
Calera High School
Calhoun High School
Carroll High School
Cedar Bluff High School
Center Point High School
Central High School (Rockford)
Central High School of Clay County
CF Vigor High School
Chambers Academy
Chelsea High School
Chickasaw City High School
Chilton County High School
Choctaw County High School
Citronelle High School
Clarke County High School
Clay-Chalkville High School
Cleburne County High School
Colbert County High School
Collinsville High School
Cottonwood High School
Cullman High School
Curry High School
Dadeville High School
Dale County High School
Daleville High School
Dallas County High School
Danville High School
Decatur High School
Demopolis High School
Deshler High School
Dora High School
Dothan High School
Douglas High School
East Lawrence High School
East Limestone High School
EDGE Virtual School
Elba High School
Elberta High School
Elmore County High School
Enterprise High School
Etowah High School
Eufaula High School
Excel High School
Fairfield High Preparatory School
Fairhope High School
Fairview High School
Faith Covenant Academy
Falkville High School
Fayette County High School
Fayetteville High School
Flomaton High School
Foley High School
Fort Payne High School
Fultondale High School
Fyffe High School
Gadsden City High School
Geneva County High School
Geneva High School
George W Long High School
George W. Carver High School (Birmingham)
Georgiana School
Geraldine School
Gordo High School
Greene County High School
Greenville High School
Gulf Shores High School
Guntersville High School
Hackleburg High School
Hale County High School
Haleyville High School
Hamilton High School
Handley High School
Hartselle High School
Hazel Green High School
Headland High School
Hillcrest High School (Evergreen)
Hokes Bluff High School
Holly Pond High School
Holt High School
Holtville High School
Hoover High School
Horseshoe Bend High School
Houston County High School
Hubbertville School
Hueytown High School
Huffman High School-Magnet
Isabella High School
J U Blacksher School
Jackson High School
Jacksonville High School
James Clemens High School
Jemison High School (Huntsville)
Kate D Smith DAR High School
Keith Middle-High School
Kinston School
Lafayette High School
Leeds High School
Leroy High School
Lillie B Williamson High School
Lincoln High School
Luverne High School
Lynn High School
Madison County High School
Maplesville High School
Marbury High School
McIntosh High School
Meek High School
Midfield High School
Millry High School
Minor High School
Monroe County High School
Moody High School
Mortimer Jordan High School
Munford High School
New Brockton High School
New Century Technology High School
Northridge High School
Oak Grove High School
Oakman High School
Ohatchee High School
Opelika High School
Opp High School
Oxford High School
Park Crossing High School
Paul W Bryant High School
Pelham High School
Phil Campbell High School
Phillips High School
Pike County High School
Pike Road High School
Pinson Valley High School
Plainview School
Priceville High School
Ranburne High School
Randolph County High School
Red Bay High School
Red Level High School
Rehobeth High School
Restoration Academy
Robert C Hatch High School
Saks High School
Sand Rock High School
Saraland High School
Sardis High School
Scottsboro High School
Section High School
Selma High School
Shades Valley High School
Sipsey Valley High School
Skyline High School
South Lamar School
Southeastern School
Southside High School (Southside)
Spain Park High School
Spanish Fort High School
Sparkman High School
Springville High School
Stanhope Elmore High School
Sumiton Christian
Sumter Central High School
Sylacauga High School
Talladega High School
Tallassee High School
Tharptown High School
TR Miller High School
Tuscaloosa County High School
Verbena High School
Vestavia Hills High School
W S Neal High School
Washington County High School
Weaver High School
Wellborn High School
West Blocton High School
West Limestone High School
West Morgan High School
Wetumpka High School
Wicksburg High School
Wilson High School
Winston County High School
Winterboro High School
Woodland High School
Woodlawn High School-Magnet
Woodville High School
All the listed schools participate in the Alabama Goes to College campaign, which is coordinated by Alabama Possible. Cash for College, a component of the Alabama Goes to College campaign, works with school counselors, career coaches, and other educators at high schools across the state to equip students to continue their education after high school by completing their FAFSA.
This year, 360 Alabama high schools are participating in Alabama Goes to College campaign. By December 2021, more than 13,000 Alabama high school seniors had already completed the FAFSA. Knowing FAFSA is the gateway to postsecondary financial aid, high school educators support their students in completing this critical task before graduation.
Educators have led the state to a 16.7% increase in FAFSA completion from the class of 2021 to the class of 2022. This improvement means the state ranks 3rd in the nation in year-over-year percentage change. Even more encouraging, low-income schools in Alabama have seen a greater year-over-year increase in FAFSA completion than their higher-income counterparts.
“It’s exciting when you see policy and practice come together to create positive outcomes for students,” said Chandra Scott, executive director of Alabama Possible. “We congratulate our Best Hustle Award recipients and encourage them to keep the momentum going for FAFSA completion as a strategy to removing the financial barrier to postsecondary education.”
Any student seeking federal or state financial aid – including grants, loans, and work-study programs – must complete the FAFSA. The form is often used to determine a student’s eligibility for scholarships and institutional aid as well. Most Alabama students qualify for Pell Grant aid of up to $6,495 per year. Students can use Pell Grants for two-year and four-year technical and academic programs. If you want to learn more about the FAFSA and Cash for College, visit alabamagoestocollege.org.
Alabama aims to add 500,000 individuals with valuable postsecondary credentials to its workforce by 2025, and Governor Kay Ivey’s Success Plus strategic plan recognizes the critical role that financial aid plays in making education after high school accessible and affordable.
Alabama Goes to College is a partnership of Alabama Possible and the Alabama State Department of Education, with the support of the Alabama Community College System and Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
About Alabama Possible
Alabama Possible is a statewide nonprofit organization that breaks down barriers to prosperity through advocacy, education and collaboration. We influence public policy to ensure every high school graduate in our state can pursue a technical or academic credential after high school. Our programs connect Alabama’s educational leaders, students and families with the resources necessary to cultivate a college-going culture and equitable educational attainment. For more information, visit www.alabamapossible.org