A+
- What is the A+ Program?
- What are the requirements to complete the A+ program?
- A+ Certification Checklist
- FAFSA Information
What is the A+ Program?
- The A+ Scholarship is a Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) program, that will provide scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools (maximum of $189 per credit hour) that attend an eligible Missouri public community college, vocational, or technical school. To qualify for the A+ benefit, you must complete a FAFSA and enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours per semester) within 48 months after graduation from high school.
- Many 4-year Universities in Missouri offer a benefit to students who graduate with A+ status; please look under the Resources heading on this page to find out more.
- LPS is considered an In-District school at MCC. Tuition is paid according to a set amount per credit hour and does not include Individual Course fees, Supply fees or Books. For more information about A+ at MCC click here.
- To use A+ monies, students must enroll and attend full-time at a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or private two-year vocational/technical school. (Students who have a disability as defined by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and are unable to enroll full time because of their disability but are enrolled in at least six credit hours may be considered to be enrolled full time.)
- Students must be seeking a degree or certificate at the school in which you are enrolled. For example, a student may not use A+ money part time to enroll in summer classes without enrolling in a degree-seeking program.
What are the requirements to complete the A+ program?
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Attend an A+ qualified high school for 2 years/4 semesters
- Enroll in the A+ program via signed application
- Complete 50 hours of unpaid tutoring (this is total and can be accumulated over the 4 years of high school)
- Maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA (cumulative)
- Maintain a 95% attendance rate (cumulative)
- Score Proficient or Advanced on the Algebra I EOC**
- Maintain a record of good student citizenship
- Fill out/complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Student Aid)
- Register with the Selective Service (males only, Federal Law)
**Students who do not score Proficient or Advanced on the Algebra I EOC, may elect to re-take it at the end of 1st semester senior year, or achieve a qualifying score on the Math portion of the ACT:
ACT Math Score GPA
15 3.0 or higher
16 2.8 or higher
17 2.5 or higher
A+ Certification Checklist
- Complete the A+ Application and turn it in, signed, to Mrs. Wolfley in the main office.
- *Attend a mandatory A+ Training Session & complete the A+ Training Form (student will be emailed the form to complete once Training has been attended).
- Find ways (covered in the Training Session) to begin obtaining your 50 A+ tutoring hours. See characteristics of a good tutor here.
- **Print the A+ Tutoring Timesheet and record all hours spent A+ student tutoring. Students will receive their first timesheet at Training.
- Seniors ONLY: Check out your final steps to ensure certification in the A+ program here.
*Students must have an A+ Application and Training Form on file before tutoring hours can be entered.
**The A+ Tutoring Timesheet (legible, filled out completely and signed by an LPS employee) will be the ONLY method of submitting tutoring hours. The forms can be found by clicking on the link above or there are copies at Mrs. Wolfley's desk in the office.
The A+ program requires a ¹95% or better attendance rate. It also requires that students maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol while in grades 9-12. Should you have special circumstances that have affected your attendance and/or citizenship, please be sure to file an A+ Attendance/Citizenship Appeal by April 15th of your Senior year. Appeals DO require accompanying documentation and will be approved or denied by an Appeals committee.
¹Attendance requirements for the A+ program are set by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Attendance appeals to be considered include absences due to catastrophic illness or catastrophic family events. Please note that absences due to common illness (ie. colds, ear infections, strep throat) and orthodontic/dental appointments cannot be considered. Extenuating circumstances (diagnosed pneumonia, diagnosed influenza or COVID, oral surgery, etc.), may be appealed with accompanying medical documentation indicating the extenuating circumstance and specific dates/times the student was affected. Homebound students are still eligible for A+ with accompanying documentation.
FAFSA Information
If you need assistance in filling out your FAFSA, please reach out to Maple Woods directly or find more information at this website.
*To get priority consideration for financial aid, submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1st. MCC's school code is 002484
*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.
*For updates regarding A+ deadlines and information, be sure to follow us @LHSAplus on Twitter.