Students
Parents
Employees
Applying for Financial Aid
APS high schools host workshops to help fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), with a goal of getting 60 percent of our graduates to apply for financial aid.
FAFSA on the Web
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Site
Get Help with Your Application
APS high schools will host FAFSA completion workshops where you can get help filling out the application. Learn more >>
In 2010, just over a third of APS high school graduates successfully applied for federal financial aid to help continue their education. APS, in partnership with Federal Student Aid (a branch of the U.S. Department of Education), worked to increase that number, realizing that too many graduates don't go to college or technical school because they think they can't afford it.
The effort paid off. APS increased the number of students applying for financial aid by 14.11 percent! Half of the class of 2011 applied for assistance, opening the door to secondary education.
APS is working to get even more students to apply for financial assistance this spring, setting a districtwide goal of 60 percent (an 8 percent increase over last year).
Statistics by School
Here are the percentages of students who filled out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in 2010 and 2011 as well as the 2012 goal:
|
APS School |
% Completed in 2010 |
% Completed in 2011 |
Percentage Increase |
% Completion Goal for 2012 |
|
eCademy (formerly Evening School) |
16.6 |
40 |
23.4 | 48 |
|
Albuquerque High School |
39.9 |
52.7 |
12.8 | 60.7 |
|
Cibola High School |
43.4 |
57.9 |
14.5 | 65.9 |
|
Del Norte High School |
34.6 |
50.2 |
15.6 | 58.2 |
|
Early College Academy |
54 |
61.8 |
7.8 | 69.8 |
|
Eldorado High School |
44.6 |
57 |
12.4 | 65 |
|
Freedom High School |
32.6 |
46.8 |
14.2 | 54.8 |
|
Highland High School |
40.7 |
56.6 |
15.9 | 64.6 |
|
La Cueva High School |
47.4 |
58.9 |
11.5 | 66.9 |
|
Manzano High School |
43 |
54.9 |
11.9 | 62.9 |
|
New Futures High School |
40 |
57.1 |
17.1 | 65.1 |
|
Rio Grande High School |
39.5 |
51.3 |
11.8 | 59.3 |
|
Sandia High School |
42.2 |
61.6 |
19.4 | 69.6 |
|
School on Wheels |
40 |
54.1 |
14.1 | 62.1 |
|
Sierra Alternative |
31.25 |
44.5 |
13.25 | 52.5 |
|
Transition Services |
6 |
10.4 |
4.4 | 18.4 |
|
Valley High School |
39.2 |
54 |
14.8 | 62 |
|
Volcano Vista High School |
41.6 |
64.8 |
23.2 | 72.8 |
|
West Mesa High School |
33.2 |
53.6 |
20.4 | 61.6 |
| District Total | 37.9 | 52 | 14.11 | 60 (8% increase) |
Why Seek Financial Aid
- There is an estimated $150 billion in aid available for students.
- The aid is available for four-year universities, community college and trade school.
- About two-thirds of full-time undergraduate college students receive some type of financial aid.
- Financial aid comes in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study.
Why Students Don't Get Financial Aid
The online application process – the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) – can be a bit intimidating because it requires tax and other financial information to complete.
You can preview the FAFSA application, get an idea of what type of information it requires, and even print out a worksheet to fill out by looking at the
FAFSA Web Worksheet (English and Spanish)
If it isn't completed correctly, the application may be rejected and no financial assistance awarded.
Top reasons the FAFSA is rejected:
- No parent signature (this can be submitted electronically)
- No student signature (also can be submitted electronically)
- Application was incomplete
- Social security number wasn’t included for student, father or mother
- Marital status was left blank
APS Helps Fill Out the FAFSA
To help reach our goal of getting 60 percent of our 2012 graduates to fill out the FAFSA, APS high schools will host FAFSA completion workshops where school counselors and volunteers will help families fill out the application.
What to Bring
When you come into one of the FAFSA completion workshops, you should plan to bring the following with you:
- Bring your FAFSA PIN with you (go to www.pin.ed.gov to apply for a FAFSA PIN)
Note: Students and parents are encouraged to apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN which serves as an identifier and as an electronic signature. It works much like the personal identification number you get from your bank.
- 2011 federal income tax return (for student and parents)
- 2011 W-2 and 1099 forms
- 2011 bank statements
Other items you might want to bring with you:
- Social Security numbers for students and parents
- Driver’s license number, if you have one
- Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
- Records of untaxed income received such as Social Security Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), welfare or veteran benefits
- Business or farm records, if applicable
- Alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
2012 FAFSA Completion Workshops
Times and dates are subject to change so please check with the school.
| Albuquerque High | Atrisco Heritage Academy |
| Cibola | Del Norte | Eldorado | Freedom | Highland | La Cueva |
| Manzano | New Futures | Rio Grande | Sandia |
| School on Wheels | Valley | Volcano Vista | West Mesa |
Albuquerque High
Contact: Yesenia Sarai Beltran: 843-6400, yesenia.beltran@aps.edu
|
Feb. 1 "Noche de ayuda financiera" |
7-8:30 p.m. | Lecture Hall |
| Feb. 8 |
7-8:30 p.m. | computer labs |
| Feb. 28 |
5-7 p.m. | computer labs |
| March 3 | 10 a.m.-noon | computer labs |
| March 22 | 5-7 p.m. | computer labs |
Atrisco Heritage Academy
Contact: Monique Anderson, 243-1458, monique.anderson@aps.edu
| Feb. 2 | 7:15-8:30 p.m. | main cafeteria |
| Feb. 4 | 9:30 a.m.-noon | main cafeteria |
| Feb. 15 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | main cafeteria |
| Feb. 28 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | main cafeteria |
| March 8 | 7:15-8:30 p.m. | main cafeteria |
|
March 28 |
3-5 p.m. | main cafeteria |
| April 24 | 7:15-8:30 p.m. | main cafeteria |
Cibola High
Contact: Joe Sena, 897-0110, sena@aps.edu
| Feb. 2 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
| Feb. 8 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
| Feb. 13 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
| Feb. 25 | noon-3 p.m. | media center/library |
| March 5 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
| March 20 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
| March 24 | noon-3 p.m. | media center/library |
| March 28 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
| April 10 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
| May 1 | 6-8 p.m. | media center/library |
Del Norte High
Contact: Nancy Traylor, 883-7222, traylor@aps.edu
| Feb. 9 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. |
Room 159 |
| March 3 | 10 a.m.-noon | Room 159 |
| April 19 | 6-8 p.m. | Room 159 |
| May 8 | 6-8 p.m. | Room 159 |
Eldorado High
Contact: Valerie Velhagen, 296-4871 ext. 1236, velhagen@aps.edu
| Feb. 6 | 6-8 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 28 | 6-8 p.m. | library |
| March 1 | 6-8 p.m. | library |
| March 20 | 6-8 p.m. | library |
| April 23 | 6-8 p.m. | library |
Freedom High
Contact: Marc Davidson, 816-9400, davidson_s@aps.edu
| Feb. 15 | 5-7 p.m. |
Highland High
Contact: Pamela Joseph, 265-3711, joseph_p@aps.edu
| Jan. 31 | 2:30-4 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 8 | 2:30-4 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 22 | 2:30-4 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 29 | 2:30-4 p.m. | library |
La Cueva High
Contact: Debra Chandler, 823-2327, debra.chandler@aps.edu
| Feb. 7 | 6-7 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 23 | 5-6 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 29 | 6-7 p.m. | G1 computer lab |
| March 13 | 6-7 p.m. | library |
| April 25 | 5-6:30 p.m. | G1 computer lab |
Manzano High School
Contact: Rod Hansen, 559-2200, hansen_r@aps.edu
| Feb. 11 | 2-4 p.m. | library |
| March 1 | 6:30-8 p.m. | library |
New Futures
Contact: Barbara Fries, 883-5680, fries@aps.edu
| Feb. 23 | 1:30-3 p.m. | Computer Lab |
| March 8 | 3-4:30 p.m. | Computer Lab |
| April 10 | 8:30-10 a.m. | Computer Lab |
Rio Grande High
Contact: Marla Smith, 873-0220, smith_marla@aps.edu
| Feb. 22 | 6-7:30 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 23 | noon-3 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 29 | 2:30-4 p.m. | library |
| April 25 | 2:30-4 p.m. | library |
| May 12 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | library |
Sandia High
Contact: Charles Vopalka, 294-1511, charles.vopalka@aps.edu
| Jan. 24 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 7 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 29 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | library |
| March 21 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | library |
| April 19 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | library |
School on Wheels
Contact: Denise Harmon, 243-2395, harmon_d@aps.edu
| Feb. 22 | 8:30 a.m.-noon | SOW students only |
| Feb. 23 | 8:30 a.m.-noon | SOW students only |
| March 22 | 1:30-3 p.m. |
Computer Lab, portable MC |
| March 27 | 1:30-3 p.m. |
Computer Lab, portable MC |
| April 11 | 3-4 p.m. |
Computer Lab, portable MC |
| April 12 | 3-4 p.m. |
Computer Lab, portable MC |
Valley High
Contact: Carol Jones-Garcia, 345-9021, jonesgarcia@aps.edu
| Feb. 18 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | media center |
| Feb. 29 | 6-8 p.m. | media center |
| March 24 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | media center |
| April 17 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | media center |
| May 5 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | media center |
Volcano Vista
Contact: Chanda Futey, 890-0343, chanda.futey@aps.edu
| Jan. 25 | 6-8 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 16 | 2:30-4 p.m. | E224 |
| Feb. 25 | 1-3 p.m. | E224 |
| March 8 | 2:30-4 p.m. | E224 |
| April 3 | 2:30-4 p.m. | E224 |
West Mesa
Contact: Jean Cruz, 831-6993, cruz@aps.edu
| Jan. 25 | 5:30-7 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 2 | 6-8 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 8 | 5:30-7:30 | library |
| Feb. 15 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 23 | 5-7 p.m. | library |
| Feb. 28 | 5-7 p.m. | library |
| March 6 | 5-7 p.m. | library |
| March 20 | 5-7 p.m. | library |
