At High Tech High, we’re on a mission to change the lives of our students. With a strong focus on hands-on learning and holistic development, we’re shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Many of our student body come from diverse backgrounds, and many of our students are the first in their families to pursue college. For the class of 2024, we honed in on supporting Latinx and Black males, a group of 172 students, the majority of whom are first-generation and low-income scholars.

While we’ve seen impressive progress—92% of these students applied to at least four 4-year colleges, and 84% were accepted—the road to higher education still faces a significant obstacle: financial barriers. Despite all our support, the financial aid process can be overwhelming, and external issues like federal delays in FAFSA processing last year have impacted our students’ decisions about attending college. In 2024, we saw a concerning rise: 9% of students in our Equity Aim group (up from 5% last year) had to either enlist in the military or join the workforce right after graduation due to financial struggles.

These numbers represent far more than statistics—they represent dreams at risk of not being realized. No student should have to put their college aspirations on hold simply because they can’t afford it. That’s where the High Tech High Foundation steps in. The Foundation is committed to increasing scholarship funds to ensure more HTH students can pursue higher education without the burden of overwhelming debt.

Our seniors, the Class of 2025, are already showing promising results. Regarding our equity aim (which includes 207 students from low-income/First Generation backgrounds), the highlight is that 82% have already submitted applications to four-year colleges. Some notable early acceptances in our Class of 2025 include Notre Dame, MIT, NYU, Loyola Marymount, Georgetown, Pitzer, Tulane, Babson, Howard, Vassar, and Stanford. Applications are still open, so this number will increase, but it is a great place to be.

Our schools continue doing even more to support our students during the school day. While many districts offer after-school workshops on completing financial aid and college applications, we take it a step further by integrating these workshops into the school day and making participation mandatory. This ensures that every student gets the support they need during school hours—no more missed opportunities or last-minute applications.

This year’s theme, “Higher Education Requires Higher Expectations,” reflects the elevated standards we hold for students, families, and schools. To achieve success, everyone must be fully committed. Students need to push themselves to meet their goals, families must provide the support they need, and schools must hold themselves accountable for offering the guidance and resources necessary for success.

At High Tech High, we’ve instilled a college-going culture since our first campus opened in 2000. With rigorous, data-driven support, every one of our six high schools provides students with a clear path to college success.

But we can’t do it alone. Our community of alumni, parents, philanthropists, and friends has the power to make a difference. Your support can help build a sustainable scholarship fund that not only meets the immediate needs of our graduates but also paves the way for future generations of High Tech High students to achieve their dreams.

Together, we can break down the financial barriers that stand in the way of higher education and allow every student to reach their full potential. Education should be accessible to all—no matter their financial background. With your help, we can make this vision a reality.

To learn more about how you can contribute or get involved, visit our foundation’s webpage or reach out directly to hthf@hightechhighfoundation.org. Your support can transform lives and uplift communities. Let’s make education accessible to every deserving High Tech High student.

Chris White is Network Advisor to High Tech High’s College Access Teams.