The state of Tennessee is recognizing fifteen Memphis-Shelby County Schools high schools as FAFSA Champions, including Hollis F. Price Middle College High, which tied for first place for Highest FAFSA Completion. The designation follows the TN FAFSA Challenge, a statewide initiative to increase the number of students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The TN FAFSA Challenge ran from October 2022 to March 2023, placing schools into three categories based on size. The following MSCS schools were named 2022-23 FAFSA Champions:
Large Schools
Central HS
Kingsbury HS
Southwind HS
Medium Schools
Douglass HS
East HS
Hamilton HS
Melrose HS
Ridgeway HS
Sheffield HS
Small Schools
BT Washington HS
Hollis F. Price Middle College HS
Manassas HS
Middle College HS
Oakhaven HS
Trezevant HS
With a 100% submission and completion rate, Hollis F. Price Middle College HS is one of three small schools in Tennessee tied for first place in the Highest FAFSA Completion. The school will receive a trophy to display in recognition of the accomplishment.
Through the efforts of faculty and staff and a partnership with TN SCORE, Sheffield High School increased its FAFSA completion rate by more than 5%. To celebrate the growth, the school was treated to a Food Truck Day with Genre Memphis, a popular food truck specializing in Southern-style cuisine.
The TN FAFSA Challenge is a part of the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation's (TSAC) "Drive to 55" initiative, which seeks to ensure that at least 55% of Tennesseans have a degree or certificate beyond high school by 2025. There were several FAFSA Challenge events in the Memphis area in partnership with the University of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College, TN SCORE (State Collaborative on Reforming Education), and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). Completing the FAFSA is an important step in the college enrollment process, as it determines a student's eligibility for financial aid.