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A+ Program

Holden High School is proud to provide the opportunity for students to participate in Missouri's A+ program.

Contact Info: 
Grant Guevel, A+ Coordinator
gguevel@holdenschools.org
1901 South Main
Holden, MO 64040
(816) 732-5523 

What is the A+ Program?

Recognizing the great benefit to our students, and to our school as an educational institution, the Holden R-III School District has joined other Missouri High Schools in having A+ status. The high school A+ program offers students a rigorous program of academic and technical education that prepares them for the workplace, post-secondary vocational-technical training or college.

As an incentive for students and a means to build a strong Missouri workforce, the state offers free tuition and fees to a Missouri Community College or Technical School for students who complete the A+ program. 

Holden High School recognizes the great impact of Missouri’s A+ Schools, not only as a means of financial assistance for post-secondary education, but also as an outstanding educational model for Missouri High Schools. 

What are the student benefits?

Students win with A+ Schools because all students participate in a rigorous program of academic and technical education that will prepare them for their future educational and career goals.

The Missouri State Board of Education has designated the Holden High School as an A+ School. Graduates meeting the requirements are eligible for state reimbursement for the cost of tuition and fees while attending any Missouri Public Community College or Post-Secondary Vocational or Technical School as a full-time student.  

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the financial incentives of the A+ Program, a student must be certified as an A+ student by the Holden High School. To qualify for certification, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Enter into a written agreement ( A+ Participation Agreement), prior to the 2nd week of the student’s senior year of high school, and have attended HHS, or an A+ designated school, for at least three consecutive years;
  • Graduate from high school with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, (no rounding of numbers);
  • Have at least a 95% cumulative attendance record, (a student is allowed approximately 8 days of absence per year);
  • Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring, or mentoring, of a younger student through a school-sponsored program and 25% of hours can be obtained through job shadowing or internship;
  • Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol while in grades 9-12;
  • Have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam or a higher level DESE approved end-of-course exam in the field of mathematics.
  • 2018 seniors who attended an A+ designated high school for any three of the four years prior to high school graduation have met this requirement.  Students graduating in or before 2017 must have attended an A+ designated high school for the three years immediately prior to graduation.
     
  • 2018 and 2019 High School seniors - If you meet all of the eligibility requirements except the end of course exam requirement, you may establish eligibility by achieving a combined ACT math subscore and high school GPA in accordance with the following scale. You may achieve the qualifying score as a high school or postsecondary student. If you achieve the score as a postsecondary student you may be eligible for an award in the same term that you take the test.
     

     ACT Math Score

    		  

    High School GPA

    17 or greater

    and

    2.5 or greater

    16

    and

    2.8 or greater

    15

    and

    3.0 or greater
  • In addition, you must complete the FAFSA each year. If you are attending a school that does not participate in Title IV programs you must complete the FAFSA4caster, which is a tool for estimating your level of need for federal financial aid.
     
  • In addition, regardless of your graduation year, if one of your parents is a member of the military on active duty or has retired from the military and relocated to Missouri within one year of their retirement, you are exempt from this requirement. However, you must attend an A+ designated high school in the school year.

For additional information regarding A+ and updates regarding the program go to the Missouri Department of Higher Education website: https://dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/aplusscholarship.php