Governor Jay Inslee recently recognized 287 Washington schools and 123 Washington school districts for signing up more than 70 percent of their students who were eligible for the College Bound Scholarship. With a sign-up rate of 75 percent, Vancouver Public Schools received a Gold Star Award.

Students who sign up for the scholarship graduate from high school and enroll in college at higher rates than their low-income peers. The first statewide cohort of College Bound students graduated from high school in 2012. Since then, the four-year high school graduation rate for these students has consistently been similar to the statewide average, and over 10 percentage points higher than for low-income students who were eligible but didn’t sign up.

Eligible students must sign up in middle school, by the end of their eighth grade year, to receive this early commitment of state funding. In combination with other state aid, the scholarship covers tuition at public college rates. To receive the scholarship, students must enroll in an eligible college within one year of high school graduation.

Learn more about this scholarship.