2021 Challenge Winners

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:

FAFSA Completions for 2021    FAFSA Completion Growth (compared to last year)

Winners

Traditional Schools:   Extra Small (5-79)   |   Small (80-165)   |   Medium (166-267)   |   Large (268+)   |   Rural
Cooperative Innovative High Schools (CIHS)   |    Charter Schools

Traditional Schools
Extra Small

FAFSA completion


Ocracoke High School

Winner: FAFSA Completions

100%

Hyde County Schools
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FAFSA Growth


Highlands School

Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth

21.7%

Macon County Schools
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Small

FAFSA completion


Weaver Academy

Winner: FAFSA Completions

89.2%

Guilford County Schools
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FAFSA Growth


North Wilkes High School

Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth

19%

Wilkes County Schools
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Medium

FAFSA completion


Central Academy of
Technology and Arts

Winner: FAFSA Completions

74.3%

Union County Public Schools
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FAFSA Growth


 
North Surry High School

Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth

14.1%

Surry County Schools
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Large

FAFSA completion


Marvin Ridge High School

Winner: FAFSA Completions

71%

Union County Public Schools
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FAFSA Growth


Person High School

Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth

16%

Person County Schools
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Rural

FAFSA completion


 
Nantahala School

Winner: FAFSA Completions

83.3%

Macon County Schools
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FAFSA Growth


Hiwassee Dam High School

Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth

28%
87.5%

Cherokee County Schools
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CIHS

FAFSA completion


Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early
College High School

Winner: FAFSA Completions

100%

Cabarrus County Schools
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FAFSA Growth


 
Greene Early College High

Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth

29.7%

Greene County Schools
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Charter Schools

FAFSA completion


Henderson Collegiate
High School

Winner: FAFSA Completions

85.5%

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FAFSA Growth


KIPP Gaston
College Preparatory

Winner: FAFSA Completion Growth

21.4%

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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.