UC High Schools Wait To See If COVID Affects College Goers

According to local high schools, it is too early to tell if COVID will significantly impact the number of seniors going to college.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission said last week that COVID would significantly affect that number. Warren County High School Principal Clark George said COVID could affect college goers, but his school has a plan to prevent that from happening.

“I think it does put a challenge, but I think we have a pretty good plan in place at Warren County High School,” George said. “We have a college office that is working with our juniors and seniors to make sure everyone has the opportunity to go to college.”

Pickett County High School Principal Mitch Buckman said he has not seen any indications that his students have been affected.

“Now, are there some students out there on the fence that could fall off one way or another? Certainly,” Buckman said. “But I think for the students that have already made up their mind, COVID has no impact on it.”

George said the school has five counselors helping students complete financial aid papers and reach academic benchmarks.

“We have a college office that focuses on registering kids for ACT, making sure there is ACT prep for the students if they need it,” George said. “They work with them to feel out the FAFSA forms in the Tennessee Promise forms.”

Pickett County Counselor Margaret Copeland said finances are not a huge concern since majority of Pickett students use the Tennessee Promise.

“We are just in a holding pattern,” Copeland said. “They seem to be doing what they are supposed to be doing. They got out college applications during college app week. We have done our Tennessee Promise. We have already had one FAFSA parent meeting. My kids seem to be on track compared to other years.”

George said finances are always a concern for Warren County, especially during COVID, but counselors are helping students apply for the Pell Grant and local scholarships.

“We kind of come from a region here that maybe a little bit lower income, but we try to make sure that all of our students apply to the Tennessee Promise. Of course, they can go to a junior college for free. We try to give them every opportunity, so that they can go no matter what their income level is.”

Both schools continue to hold ACT prep classes and keep school as normal as possible to keep momentum going for seniors.