Vol. 41, No. 32
April 19, 2007
CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
State Board of Education Designates
7 High Schools as New “A+ Schools”
Seven public high schools have qualified for designation as new “A+ Schools,” state education officials announced today. As a result, eligible seniors in these schools may receive state-paid tuition assistance to attend a Missouri community college or public technical school.
The new A+ high schools are:
- Belton High School
- Bunker High School
- Hazelwood Central High School
- Hazelwood East High School
- Plato High School
- Steelville High School
- Windsor High School
A total of 231 public high schools in Missouri have now been designated as A+ schools, as authorized by state law.
Since 1997, nearly 30,000 Missouri students have taken advantage of the A+ tuition assistance to attend a community college. This year (2006-07), the state is providing $18 million to underwrite financial aid for eligible A+ students.
To qualify for tuition assistance, high school graduates must attend an A+ high school for at least three years, have a grade-point average of at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale, maintain a 95 percent attendance record, and perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring in the school district.
“The A+ Schools program is helping schools raise the expectations of students and parents and making higher education accessible to more Missouri families. The program continues to grow in popularity every year,” said Stan Johnson, assistant commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The A+ Schools program encourages participating schools to reduce dropout rates; eliminate general-track courses and raise academic expectations for all students; and work closely with higher-education and private-sector leaders to better prepare students for life after high school.