HOUSTON, Texas – For hundreds of thousands of Houston students who have worked hard in high school but aren’t sure what comes next, a new partnership is turning that effort into a concrete college opportunity.
Houston Independent School District and Houston Christian University have formalized an agreement that guarantees HISD students admission to HCU — along with merit scholarships tied directly to their GPA. The higher the grades, the more money a student receives.
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The bar to qualify is intentionally within reach.
“All they have to do is apply, and we help them do that,” said Jill Quinn, HISD’s Deputy Chief of College, Career and Military Readiness. “Their GPA earns them access to admissions if they’re over a 3.0, or if they have three years of math.”
For families worried about the cost of college, the scholarship component is designed to make a real difference.
“For our students, when they work hard at our high schools, they’ll be able to have access to money to make their college journey more affordable,” Quinn said. “We’ll help them get a great education at a lower cost.”
HISD Chief Academic Officer Alyssa Rocha said the partnership is especially meaningful for students who may not know where to start.
“This partnership makes that connection much more concrete and affordable, especially for our students who work so, so hard every day but might sometimes not be sure where to begin or what their options look like,” Rocha said.
HCU’s acting president Sandy Mooney said the message to every HISD student is simple: your hard work has not gone unnoticed.
“Your efforts matter,” Mooney said. “There is a future and your achievements will be recognized.”
The program also addresses something Quinn hears from students regularly — many simply want to stay close to home.
“A lot of our kids really want to stay home, and so having access to a great school in your home city is something that we’re really excited about,” Quinn said.
High school counselors will play a key role in connecting students to the program, with both organizations urging them to help students understand their eligibility before applying.
HCU’s Guaranteed Admission Program has served Houston-area students for several years, but Tuesday’s signing marks its expansion to the largest school district in Texas — opening the door for a significantly larger pool of students to take advantage of it.
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