DENVER -- Denver Public Schools (DPS) is working with the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) to send more students to college. DPS said 51 percent of this year's graduates are going to college this fall, including technical colleges, community colleges and four-year programs. This is a 5 percent increase from last year.
The Denver Scholarship Foundation helps low-to-moderate-income students with more than $5 million in scholarships. Scholarships are need-based, renewable for up to four years and support students applying to schools within Colorado. A large amount of the outreach within DPS is focused on students entering their senior year of high school.
The Future Centers program in DPS serves 25 high schools in the district. Within the centers, college advisors work with thousands of seniors and their families every year. The advisors help students apply to four-year, two-year, and certificate programs, secure scholarships and financial aid and connect students with on-campus resources.
“The cost of college is ridiculous, so we know our scholarship helps students to a degree, but we know it is not a full ride. We know all of their expenses are not taken care of and students want to be financially responsible. We talk about financial literacy and how to make good decisions regarding that,” said Leticia Treviño, Director of the TRIO Talent Search Program for DSF.
DSF plans to expand the Future Centers program to Northfield High School and High Tech Early College to offer supportive services to more students and families.
“Its the whole family, really breaking that cycle of poverty through the whole generation,” said Treviño.
Advisors want to remind DPS students that it is not too late for graduating seniors and families to seek out opportunities for colleges and careers. Students can connect with their high school advisors or college campuses in Colorado to find resources and financial aid opportunities to apply for.
DSF is slated to have 1,284 new scholarship finalists in July once students complete a few additional deadlines.
