In 2021 North Carolina public high schools were invited to join the new NC First in FAFSA challenge to promote FAFSA completion and the chance to win $500 for their school! Participating high schools competed among similar schools by senior class size and location, in two categories:
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FAFSA Completions for 2021 | ![]() |
FAFSA Completion Growth (compared to last year) |
Winner: FAFSA Completions
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100% |
Hyde County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth
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21.7% |
Macon County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completions
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89.2% |
Guilford County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth
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19% |
Wilkes County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completions
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74.3% |
Union County Public Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth
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14.1% |
Surry County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completions
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71% |
Union County Public Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth
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16% |
Person County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completions
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83.3% |
Macon County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth
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28% |
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87.5% |
Cherokee County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completions
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100% |
Cabarrus County Schools
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Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth
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29.7% |
Greene County Schools
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Note: FAFSA completion results use federal data (compiled and analyzed by Carolina Demography) with the closest federal reporting period to June 30, 2021, comparing 2020 to 2021 completion.