A+ INFORMATION

The A+ program is a program that the parent agrees to enroll into during student registration their incoming freshman year or when a student is new to the district. The A+ program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated schools who attend a participating public community college or vocational/technical school in the state of Missouri. The state legislature must appropriate funding for the A+ tuition benefits to be accessed.

All Students can stay up-to date with their A+ regirements on FOCUS under the Grad Requirements screen.

• Enter into a written agreement with your high school prior to graduation
  
• Attend an A+ School for two consecutive years prior to graduation
• Graduate with an unweighted overall GPA of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale for grades 9-12 (Notice: The Department for Higher Learning WILL NOT ROUND UP to meet the GPA requirement.)
• Graduate with an overall attendance rate of at least 95% for grades 9-12
• Perform 50 hours of district supervised, unpaid tutoring or mentoring (class they can take their junior or senior year), of which up to 25% may include job shadowing prior to graduation.
• Maintain a record of good citizenship
• NO use of alcohol and unlawful drugs (automatic disqualification).
• Violations of Safe Schools Act: Students who are disciplined in accordance with the Safe Schools Act of 1996 will be removed from the A+ Schools Program. These violations include, but are not limited to, assault, weapons possessions, and drug distribution.
  
• No More than 10 days of OSS/20 points in a school year to be qualified. Each day is valued at 2 points per OSS day. 10 days of OSS= 20 citizenship points

• Must score proficient or advanced on the state level Algebra I End of Course Exam OR must have a combined ACT math score AND high school GPA in accordance with the attached scale.

• Apply for non-payback scholarships by completing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

For More Information please go to the Missouri Department Higher Education State Link

To be eligible for the A+ School Incentive, a student must have a 95% cumulative attendance record

over 4 years Students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time for classes.

Therefore, the student will acquire the habits of punctuality, self-discipline and responsibility. A student

who does not meet the 95% attendance requirement will not be eligible for the A+ Financial Incentive.

The following attendance guidelines are required of all A+ students:

• All absences count against the 95% attendance calculation for A+ students. The only exceptions are school sponsored field trips, school activities and properly documented college visits.

• You must be a student at an A+ designated High School for two (2) years prior to graduation.
• A cumulative attendance record will be kept from the beginning of the A+ student’s freshman year until graduation.

• Attendance will be calculated on hours missed not days missed.
• The official record of attendance is kept in the high school attendance office. Students attending an offsite program will have their attendance reported to the high school attendance office.

• A+ attendance guidelines differ from the regular school attendance rules. A doctor’s note for an excused absence does not qualify a student for an A+ attendance waiver. A+ attendance waivers from the appeals process are for serious, long-term absences, not the average cold or illness. Review the A+ Forms below and will be processed the students senior year if the parent/senior deem necessary.

Click Here for Common asked questions

• Any senior wanting to attend post-secondary summer classes must fill out the previous year's FAFSA in order to receive financial aid for those summer classes.
• Any student wanting to use their A+ benefit must make a good faith effort to secure financial assistance funds by filling out the FAFSA. Check deadlines here.
• For priority consideration, submit your FAFSA application by Feb. 1.