Federal Way Public Schools is proud to report that 955 — or 99 percent — of last year’s eligible eighth graders, signed up for the College Bound Scholarship program by the June 30 deadline. This is in direct support of the district’s Strategic Plan Goal Five: Persistence to Graduation. Statewide, over 30,000 — 71 percent — of eligible students signed up for the program.

Gov. Inslee has recognized Federal Way Public Schools as one of the top performing school districts to exceed the statewide average sign-up rate of 71 percent. To commemorate this acknowledgment, the governor presented the district with the Gold Star Award. School district sign-up rates are available on the Washington Student Achievement Council website.

“We know that when scholars sign up for College Bound scholarships, they graduate from high school and persist through college at a higher rate compared to others in the same socioeconomic status that don’t sign up for College Bound,” FWPS Superintendent Dr. Tammy Campbell said. “It stands to reason to encourage all eligible seventh- and eighth-graders to sign up for this opportunity.”

The College Bound Scholarship helps Washington’s income-eligible students reach higher levels of educational attainment. In combination with other state aid, it covers tuition at public college rates.

Even with more students signing up for the program, College Bound high school graduation rates have held steady. For the last five years, they have been more than 10 percentage points above the statewide average for low-income students who did not sign up for the program. The 2016 four-year high school graduation rate for College Bound Scholarship students was 76 percent. In comparison, only 64 percent of low-income students who were eligible — but did not sign up — graduated in 2016.

The benefits of the College Bound Scholarship program extend beyond high school. College Bound students are enrolling in college at slightly higher than the statewide rate. To receive the scholarship, students must be admitted to and enroll in an eligible college within one year of high school graduation. In 2013–14, College Bound students enrolled in college at a rate of 64 percent. This is 3 percent higher than the statewide college enrollment rate of 61 percent.