SCHOLARSHIPS

Finding the right school can seem like a lot of work… figuring out how to pay for college can be overwhelming for students and families. There is money out there to help make your college dream a reality. It will take time and effort on your part, but the benefits are worth it. Apply for EVERY scholarship you are available for … small scholarships of $300 - $500 can add up quickly!

Local Scholarships

Local scholarships are available only to residents of a specific town, county or geographic area. Since the number of students who qualify is limited based on location, the chances of winning a local scholarship are often greater than the odds of winning a national scholarship competition. This can make local scholarships an attractive option for helping fund your education.

There are a variety of scholarships available for seniors looking to find some money for college! Rockland offers many scholarships, some with general criteria, some with more specific requirements. Scholarships have strict deadlines, any many require a photo and/or written statement. All Rockland local scholarships are made available to students in February/March each year.

National Scholarships

These websites are search engines for scholarships offered across the country. Simply create a profile and let the service find scholarships that personally apply to you!

College-Specific Scholarships

Most colleges offer a variety of scholarships and grants - based on merit, talent/ability, financial need or other criteria. Be sure to search the Financial Aid/Scholarship pages for every school you are applying to.

Massachusetts Scholarships

John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship provides a tuition waiver at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included. Massachusetts public high school students become eligible for the scholarship when they:

  • score at the Advanced and Proficient levels on grade 10 MCAS tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. (A student must earn a score of Advanced on the ELA or Mathematics test and a score of Proficient or higher on the other test); AND

  • have combined scores from the MCAS ELA and Mathematics tests that place them in the top 25 percent of students in the graduating class in their district (in regard to MCAS scores, not GPA).

  • Students will be notified in October of their senior year if they have received this award. There is no application required.

Beginning with the class of 2016, a student's score on a high school Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) test is being added to the eligibility criteria for the Adams Scholarship. Therefore, the score for a grade 9 student who takes an STE test will count toward his or her scholarship eligibility.

Starting with the class of 2016, to qualify for the scholarship a student must

  • score at the Advanced performance level on one of the three high school MCAS tests in ELA, Mathematics, or STE (Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, or Technology/Engineering); AND

  • score at the Proficient level or higher on the other two high school MCAS tests; AND

  • have combined scores from the three tests that place them in the top 25 percent of students in the graduating class in their district.

To see how much the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is worth at each state college or university please click HERE

Stanley Z. Koplik Tuition Waiver

The Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery with Distinction waives tuition at Massachusetts public colleges and universities. To be eligible to apply for a Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award, a student must:

  • Must be currently enrolled in a Massachusetts public high school. (Students who have graduated high school are not eligible to apply)

  • Be a permanent Massachusetts resident.

  • Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen.

  • (In order to use the tuition waiver portion of the Certificate, students must be eligible to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA))

Initial qualification for the Certificate of Mastery, requires that a student score "Advanced" on at least one grade 10 MCAS test subject, and score "Proficient" on the remaining sections of the grade 10 MCAS. To Receive the Certificate of Mastery, students must fulfill additional requirements through one of the following combinations covering both arts/humanities and mathematics/science:

  • 2 AP exams with scores of 3 or better;

  • 2 SAT II exams (Minimum score dependent upon subject area. Scores are listed on the Koplik application Koplik application

  • 1 SAT II exam and 1 AP exam; or

  • 1 SAT II exam and 1 other achievement; or

  • 1 AP exam and 1 other achievement.

What is the difference between the John and Abigail Adams & Stanley Z. Koplik Awards?