The S.C. Commission on Higher Education announced winners of its inaugural FAFSA First Challenge, recognizing high schools with the highest FAFSA completion rates by classification.
Based on a release from S.C. Commission on Higher Education.
The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education has announced the winners of its inaugural FAFSA First Challenge, a statewide competition designed to encourage high schools to increase completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid among graduating seniors, according to CHE.
A total of 24,333 FAFSAs were submitted by the class of 2026, or 43.73 percent, a 4.43 percent increase from the previous year, according to CHE.
“The FAFSA First Competition is a new initiative developed by the CHE College Access Team that seeks to recognize high schools doing outstanding work to help students complete the FAFSA, while simultaneously encouraging their peers to achieve similar success in increasing FAFSA completion rates,” said Dr. Gerrick Hampton, CHE associate director for student affairs. “We are extremely proud of our first and second place winners and look forward to future competitions.”
Winners by classification, according to CHE: In Class 5A, Fort Mill High School placed first with 62.37 percent and Catawba Ridge High School placed second with 62.26 percent. In Class 4A, Gray Collegiate Academy placed first with 70.59 percent and Gilbert High School placed second with 66.32 percent. In Class 3A, Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics placed first with 87.33 percent and Greenville Technical Charter High School placed second with 84.73 percent. In Class 2A, Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities placed first with 80.17 percent and Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology placed second with 79.10 percent. In Class 1A, High School for Health Careers (HCS) Scholars Academy placed first with 91.11 percent and Aiken Scholars Academy placed second with 78.26 percent.
“Our guidance department, led by Mrs. Judi Bledsoe, does a phenomenal job preparing our students for college and beyond,” said Dr. Brian Newsome, principal of Gray Collegiate Academy, the 4A division winner. “This award is further evidence that all students at Gray are put first, and I can’t thank our entire guidance department enough for their hard work and dedication to our students.”
The competition is administered by the CHE College Access Team as part of the annual College Goal SC FAFSA completion campaign, according to CHE. Data used in the competition came from the FAFSA Completion Data Dashboard maintained by the South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission.
CHE also announced Early Bird Award winners earlier this year for the highest completion rates as of Feb. 1: Catawba Ridge High School in 5A with 50.13 percent, Gray Collegiate Academy in 4A with 51.63 percent, Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in 3A with 84.00 percent, Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in 2A with 70.69 percent, and HCS Scholars Academy High in 1A with 82.22 percent.
CHE plans to continue the FAFSA First Challenge in future years, according to the commission.
Source: S.C. Commission on Higher Education original release.
