- Executive Office of Education
- Department of Higher Education
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $550,000 to Gateway Cities to Boost FAFSA Completion for Schools in Massachusetts
Nicole Giambusso, Communications Director
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 Trinity Day Academy, $300; Whaling City Junior/Senior High School, $1,260 |
| 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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Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $550,000 to Gateway Cities to Boost FAFSA Completion for Schools in Massachusetts
Executive Office of Education
Department of Higher Education
