FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chandra Scott | cscott@alabamapossible.org | 205.939.1408
142 Alabama High Schools Win “Best Hustle Award”
Educators support early FAFSA submissions to make postsecondary education and training more accessible
Birmingham, AL (Mar. 12, 2025) – Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit that breaks down barriers to prosperity, today announced that 142 schools will receive the Best Hustle Award for successfully improving their rates of early submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by at least 10 percent from 2024 to 2025. Submission rates were analyzed for the first thirteen weeks of the respective FAFSA cycles. Schools that earned this recognition include:
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Albert P Brewer High School
Albertville High School
Aliceville High School
Alma Bryant High School
Appalachian School
Ardmore High School
Autaugaville School
BCS Virtual Academy of Learning
Benjamin Russell High School
Bessemer City High School
Bibb County High School
Billingsley High School
Booker T Washington High
Brilliant High School
Brindlee Mountain High School
Buckhorn High School
Calera High
Calhoun High School
Carroll High School
Central High School (Hayneville)
CF Vigor High School
Cherokee High School
Childersburg High School
Citronelle High School
Colbert Heights High School
Collinsville High School
Columbia High School
Corner High School
Cottonwood High School
Covenant Christian School
Crossville High School
Curry High School
Dadeville High School
Dale County High School
Daleville High School
Danville High School
Decatur High School
Deshler High School
Dothan City Virtual School
Dothan High School
Douglas High School
East Limestone High School
Elberta High School
Elkmont High School
Elmore County High School
Enterprise High School
Escambia County High School
Etowah High School
Excel High School
Falkville High School
Fayette County High School
Flomaton High School
Florala High School
Foley High School
Fort Payne High School
Fyffe High School
Gadsden City High School
Gardendale High School
Gaylesville High School
Geneva County High School
Geneva High School
George W Long High School
George Washington Carver High School (Birmingham)
Glencoe High School
Gulf Shores High School
Hackleburg High School
Hale County High School
Hanceville High School
Hillcrest High School (Evergreen)
Holt High School
Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School
Homewood High School
Horseshoe Bend High School
Hubbertville School
Hueytown High School
Huffman High School-Magnet
Ider School
Isabella High School
Jackson-Olin High School
Jasper High School
Jefferson County Virtual School
John L Leflore Magnet School
Keith Middle-High School
Lafayette High School
Lanett Senior High School
Lauderdale County High School
Leeds High School
Leroy High School
Linden High School
Loachapoka High School
Marbury High School
Marion County High School
Mary G Montgomery High School
McKenzie High School
Meek High School
Midfield High School
Millry High School
Minor High School
Mortimer Jordan High School
North Sand Mountain School
Oakman High School
Oneonta High School
Opp High School
Parker High School
Pelham High School
Phillips High School
Pike County High School
Pike Road High School
Pisgah High School
Pleasant Home School
Prattville High School
Reeltown High School
Samson High School
Satsuma High School
Scottsboro High School
Section High School
Selma High School
Shades Valley High School
Sheffield High School
Smiths Station High School
Southeastern School
Southside High School (Selma)
Southside High School (Southside)
Sparkman High School
Stanhope Elmore High School
Sulligent School
Sumiton Christian
Sumter Central High School
Sweet Water High School
Sylacauga High School
Tallassee High School
TR Miller High School
University Charter School
Vincent Middle High School
Washington County High School
Wenonah High School
West Blocton High School
West Morgan High School
Wilson High School
Winterboro High School
Woodlawn High School-Magnet
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 and training after high school by completing a FAFSA.
This year, 382 Alabama high schools are participating in the Alabama Goes to College campaign. Despite this FAFSA cycle opening many weeks after the typical October 1st launch date, close to 20,000 Alabama high school seniors had already submitted the FAFSA by the end of February. High school educators know FAFSA is the gateway to postsecondary financial aid and assist their students in completing this critical task before graduation.
“We extend our heartiest congratulations to the winners of our Best Hustle Awards,” said Chandra Scott, executive director of Alabama Possible. “Their commitment towards ensuring that their students can access financial aid for their postsecondary journeys is commendable and exemplary! We deeply appreciate their hard work and hope they continue the important mission of breaking down financial barriers for their students.”
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 also. Most Alabama students qualify for Pell Grant aid of up to $7,395 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 Goes to College is a partnership of Alabama Possible and the Alabama State Department of Education, with the support from the Alabama Community College System and Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
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About Alabama Possible
Alabama Possible is a statewide nonprofit organization that breaks down barriers to prosperity through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Since 1993, we have transformed how people think and talk about economic opportunity and educational attainment in Alabama. Our work includes advocacy at both the federal and state level; establishing statewide networks; providing initiatives that focus on postsecondary access and success; and facilitating civic engagement discussions that result in a shift from deliberation to action. For more information, visit www.alabamapossible.org