PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP NUMBERS DOWN - Requirements Increased

(04/01/2004)
About 3,200 West Virginia high school seniors have been awarded a Promise scholarship.

Calhoun High School had 17 graduates receive the scholarships last year.

The number of recipients are down about 25 percent compared to last year.

The state made it tougher to win the scholarships.

West Virginia's Promise program spends $27 million a year on the scholarships, paying in-state college tuition and fees for students who graduate from high school with a "B" average and qualifying scores on the ACT college entrance test.

Promise scholars now have to earn an overall score of 21 on the ACT, like last year, but also had to score at least 19 on each of the ACT's four subsections: English, reading, math and science.

About 8,000 students applied for Promise this year.

The Higher Education Policy Commission has awarded college grants to another 9,427 West Virginia students based on their financial need and academic performance.

Those students will get between $350 and $2,600.