Earlier this year, West High partnered with the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis to host its annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) session. For students applying to colleges, the FAFSA can determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid. The free, beginning-of-the-school-year event included staff and counselor-led discussions, as well as a breakdown of key forms and deadlines. Beyond the FAFSA, some students are exploring merit-based scholarships to reduce the cost of college further. 

“The cost of college is a major factor in determining which colleges to consider after being accepted. Some students will qualify for grants or loan subsidies due to family needs, which can certainly offset the overall cost of college,” college and career counselor Chris Lorenz said. 

While a significant number of undergraduate education-seekers — including 43% of the class of 2024 — filed the FAFSA, aid is often not enough to cover high price tags. In fact, middle-class families earning $80,000 to $89,000 end up with the most student-loan debt in proportion to their family income. This phenomenon, dubbed the “middle-class” squeeze, ignores middle-class families, who don’t have the disposable income to afford college, yet don’t receive enough aid to cover costs.

“Due to cost, some colleges are frankly out of reach for some students, which is unfortunately the reality of the overall rising costs of attending college,” Lorenz said.

Individuals with high need may qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, with a maximum award of $7,395. The government may also offer direct subsidized loans, for which the U.S. Department of Education pays interest while the student is enrolled in school. On the other hand, unsubsidized loans require borrowers to pay interest from the outset. 

Financial aid packages offered by colleges often combine several forms of support, including grants, loans and work-study opportunities. While these programs can help lower college costs, they may not cover the full price of attending a university. As a result, students look beyond need-based aid and pursue merit-based scholarships that reward academic achievement, leadership, or extracurricular involvement. Unlike FAFSA assistance, these scholarships often don’t take financial circumstances into account.

In October, West High juniors had the opportunity to participate in the PSAT/NMSQT. Those who earned a qualifying score, which in Missouri was an index score of 217 for 2026 graduates, were eligible to apply for the National Merit Scholarship. Applicants may advance in the competition and receive recognition as semi-finalists, finalists, and/or winners. From an annual national pool of roughly 15,000 finalists every year, around 7,700 students across the country are selected for the scholarship. Some schools, including the University of Alabama and the University of Arizona, offer full-rides or substantial financial aid packages to National Merit Semi-Finalists and Finalists. 

“[Currently], I’m a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship. [To qualify, students] first take the PSAT when [they’re] a junior, then if they do well enough, [they’ll] qualify to be a semifinalist. [From there], in the fall of your senior year, [they] can then apply online for consideration to be a finalist,” senior Nicole Paquette said. 

Beyond the National Merit Competition, students can also qualify for institution-specific scholarships. For example, the University of Missouri (Mizzou) automatically awards students with a $7,200 Chancellor’s Award if they fall in between an American College Test (ACT) score range of 30-35 and maintain a GPA between 3.65 and 4.0. Like several other colleges, Mizzou also offers a Perfect Score Scholarship for students who earn a perfect score of 36 on the ACT or 1570-1600 on the SAT. To prepare students for standardized testing, some sophomore English classes at West High involve practice tests and offer general tips for success. 

“I think [the ACT] is a big test for our students and there’s a lot of stress around it. I want my students to be in a position to succeed,” English teacher Adam Chadwick said.

Chadwick is the sponsor of the ACT Club at West High, which began last year. It is dedicated to tutoring students from various grade levels through bi-monthly meetings.

 “[I hope] this club will last forever at Parkway [West], because not every student can afford a private tutor [or have] time [to prep]. It’s really important to provide avenues for students who want it,” Chadwick said.

Beyond test or essay prep, West High offers internal scholarship opportunities. Lorenz and other members of the counseling department regularly share these opportunities with students planning to pursue a postsecondary education in all fields. 

“[One of my previous] teachers mentioned [the math department’s scholarship] from previous years. The application [itself] is pretty easy too. There’s just one 500-word essay where you write about your dedication to math, and then you fill out some information about yourself. I plan to major in physics, so [this scholarship] connects with my college goals,” Paquette said. 

The Ellen Applebaum Temkin Memorial Mathematics Scholarship is unique to West High, honoring former math teacher Ellen Applebaum Temkin and recognizing students who demonstrate commitment and achievement in mathematics. Beyond math, the West Parent Organization (WPO) offers the Paragon and Beth Plunkett Service Scholarship to all graduating seniors. These WPO scholarships have a due date of March 13, and awardees will be recognized at West High’s Honors Ceremony in May. West High also offers several external scholarships through SchoolLinks, the general platform for students’ college and career preparation and management. 

“Mr. Lorenz [recently told me about how] every week, the counseling [department sends out a] news hub email. They usually list new scholarships, which I actually didn’t know about until now. I also know that the College Board website has a scholarship search that you can put filters on and search for anything that matches you, so I think that’s a really helpful way to just every week kind of see what’s available,” Paquette said.

For current juniors, the college admissions process has already begun. In fact, high school families across the district are invited to attend the Parkway College & Career Night Info Night on March 31. The event, which will take place in the West High Library from 6 to 8 p.m., will include college admission representatives and specialists, as well as breakout sessions on topics such as Financial Aid 101, Pursuing College Athletics, Applying to Highly Selective Universities, Tips for Essay Writing & Resume Building and Community College & the A+ Scholarship.