Hollingsworth: How Arizona high school students can prepare early for college

Angela Hollingsworth

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According to recent enrollment reports released by the Arizona Board of Regents, just 30% of Arizona high school graduates completed a college degree or certificate program within six years.

“We are still not meeting the mark when it comes to postsecondary attainment for our high school graduates,” says ABOR Chair Fred DuVal. “This chronic, low rate of educational attainment limits our students’ upward mobility and is a recipe for our state’s future economic stagnation.”

It’s never too early to prepare for higher education. By preparing early for college and taking advantage of the resources available, students can set themselves up for a successful future. But how can the community help more high schoolers take the next big step, whether to a traditional college, community college, trade school or apprenticeship?

ThrivePoint’s team suggests starting conversations with junior-high and high-school-aged children in your life to steer them toward potential post-secondary opportunities. Additional resources can be found at https://www.thrivepointhighschool.com/preparing-for-college/

6 tips for preparing for education and training after high school

1. Explore/visit potential schools, identify which programs align with career goals while evaluating over all costs, graduation completion rates and job placement rates.

2. Take challenging courses such as advanced placement or dual enrollment while in high school to earn college credits and cut future college costs.

3. Prepare for and take the SATs/ACTs. There are many free resources such as https://www.collegeboard.org/, https://www.khanacademy.org/,  ACT.org and others. Additionally, ThrivePoint has developed its own course to prepare students. However, some schools are no longer requiring ACT and SATs, so be sure to identify what your potential school’s requirements are before investing time and resources.

4. Align extracurriculars with potential careers. Students interested in health science careers may want to join the Future Medical Professional Club, while those interested in technology may want to join the IT Club or Robotics Club. By participating in these types of clubs, students can gain valuable skills and experiences that can help them stand out when applying to college.

5. Work on financing post-secondary education. Options include:

• Apply for aid though FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

• Start a 529 College Savings Account: https://az529.gov/

• Identify scholarships through sites such as https://www.azfoundation.org/scholarship-seekers/, College Depot and others.

6. Utilize free resources at your high school such as counselors, teachers and club advisers to learn about mentorships, camps, scholarships and more that may help you decide the best path after high school. A list of Arizona colleges, additional resources and scholarship tips is available at https://www.thrivepointhighschool.com/preparing-for-college/.

Editor’s note: Angela Hollingsworth is Arizona director of schools for ThrivePoint High School, a free hybrid charter school serving grades 9 to 12 and students up to 21 years old at six locations in the Valley and one in Yuma. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.