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Financial Readiness

Financial Aid Workshop Events

If seniors or parents of seniors need hands-on help, each campus will have Financial Aid Workshop events designated for students and parents. Simply bring your 2020 tax documents and income information (tax returns and W2’s), Social Security Numbers and dates of marriage/divorce/separation/widow status.

Financial aid reps from the local colleges will also be available to answer any questions. This is not an informational event. The purpose is to provide hands-on assistance during the event to help seniors and families fill out the online financial aid application.

The CCMR coordinator at each high school is your best contact for questions, and their contact information is listed in the below section.

Below that section is another section you can click and expand, and it details Things You Need Before You Fill Out The FAFSA—You will be best helped during your time at the Financial Aid Workshop event if you have those things before attending the event.

Assistance With Financial Aid

The sections below provides CCMR coordinator contact information for assistance with a student’s Financial Aid process. It also contains a section of things you need to have completed as best you can. If you are unsure of how to complete those steps, you can contact your high school’s CCMR coordinator.

    • Amarillo High School: Billy Borden, CCMR Coordinator, 806-326-2016

    • Caprock High School: Abby Ortega, CCMR Coordinator, 806-326-2232

    • Palo Duro High School: Sandra Moore, CCMR Coordinator, 806-326-2424

    • Tascosa High School: Nydia Sotelo, CCMR Coordinator, 806-326-2640

  • Visit the Things You Need Before You Fill Out the FAFSA (Opens in new window) for in-depth details on each of the things listed below. The informatiom below is summarized. Please visit the article link for FULL information on each of the topics in this section.

    If you have questions or need help, please contact your high school’s CCMR coordinator. Contact information for each high school’s CCMR coordinator is in the above section “Assistance With Financial Aid.”

    Things You Need Before You Fill Out the FAFSA (summary only!):

    • Create an online Federal Student Aid (FSA) account. The graduating senior needs an FSA account, and at least one parent needs to create an FSA account. FSA accounts are mandatory.
       
    • Social Security Number or Alien Registration Number. Parents and students both need their individual number information for the FAFSA form
       
    • Your driver’s license number. If you do not have a driver’s license, don’t worry about this step.
       
    • Tax records. On the 2022–23 FAFSA form, a graduating senior (and your parents if you are a dependent student) will report any income information.
       
    • Records of Your Untaxed Income. The FAFSA questions about untaxed income, such as child support, interest income, and veterans’ non-education benefits, may or may not apply to you. If any untaxed income exists, you will report this on the FAFSA form.
       
    • Records of your assets (money). This section includes savings and checking account balances, as well as the value of investments such as stocks, bonds, and real estate excluding your primary residence.
       
    • List of the schools the student is interested in attending. Be sure to add any college you’re considering, even if you haven’t applied or been accepted yet. TIP:  To be considered for state aid, several states require you to list schools in a particular order (for instance, you might need to list a state school first). Find out whether your state has a requirement for the order in which you list schools on your FAFSA form (Opens in new window).

    NOTE: The above information is a brief summary and does not include all of the information you need to know. Visit the Things You Need Before You Fill Out the FAFSA (Opens in new window) for in-depth details on each of the things listed above.

Financial Readiness

Financial readiness is the ability to cover the cost of postsecondary, higher education through college financial aid, savings, or loans. Amarillo ISD provides the support to help students and their families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and scholarship applications.

Students, keep these things in mind regarding financial readiness:

  • Don't let money keep you from pursuing your dreams
  • Learn about and apply for scholarships: Visit your high school's College and Career Center for more information
  • Amarillo ISD seniors earn millions of dollars in scholarships every year (This could be you!)
  • Fill out and complete your FAFSA (Opens in new window) in October and definitely by March of your senior year
  • Take advantage of FAFSA Workshops that take place around the district: Free professional help is available.

Financial Aid For College

Financial aid comes from the federal and local government. It's money that helps a student pay for education expenses at a postsecondary school (e.g. college, career school, and graduate school). Federal student aid covers expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Financial aid often comes in the form of both grants and loans. Helpful links include:

  • College For All Texans listing of expenses at universities and colleges (Opens in new window)
  • The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website is a valuable federal student aid resource to learn how grants, work-study, and loans help make college affordable. At https://studentaid.gov/ from the main menu you can select the following:
    • Loans and Grants
      • Get a Grant
        • Pell Grants
        • TEACH Grants
      • Learn About Loans and Grants
        • How Financial Aid Works
        • Financial Aid Eligibility
        • Loans, Grants, and Work-Study

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be done completely online (Opens in new window).

There is also a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TAFSA) for non-residents (Opens in new window).

You can get an estimate on how much financial aid you can expect to receive (Opens in new window). Applications for financial aid should be completed by March 1st. Take advantage of our FAFSA Workshops during the spring.

Some private colleges also require a CSS profile (Opens in new window) in addition to the FAFSA or TAFSA Only submit this form if required by the institution you are applying to.

Scholarships

Scholarships are free money, meaning you do not have to repay, but there may be a few strings attached (e.g. good academic standing). In the end, the benefits of scholarships far outweigh any negatives you might attribute to the process in obtaining and/or maintaining the award. The application process depends on the benefactor.

All Amarillo ISD scholars are encouraged to complete the General Scholarship Application (PDF opens in new window). Scholarship booklets are listed below:

NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2024-2025: The scholarship booklets for 2024-2025 are now available.

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