Biloxi High School Named a 2023 School of Excellence by ACT’s American College Application Campaign

April 17, 2024

BILOXI, MS— ACT®’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC) named Biloxi High School as a 2023 School of Excellence as part of the College Countdown Mississippi effort to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential. Biloxi High School is one of the 27 exemplary schools being recognized nationwide.

“We would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved in the American College Application Campaign and who played a vital role in hosting college application events,” said Director of GEAR UP Outreach at Get2College Brandi Lyndall. “Congratulations to the teachers, supporting staff, volunteers, and students at Biloxi High School for this outstanding accomplishment, and for empowering students from all backgrounds to apply to college.”

This year’s winning schools, including Biloxi High School, were key contributors to the national campaign’s success, as reported by the participating state campaigns:

• Biloxi High School is among the 9,253 participating schools that hosted a college application event last fall – a record number of high schools that participated in this nationwide initiative to date.
• More than 467,000 seniors submitted at least one college application during events.
• Students submitted a total of 1,398,024 applications.

The college application process can be confusing and daunting. Winning schools help students understand the steps of the application process and host events that empower students to complete an application.

Each year, ACAC works with designated coordinators in nearly every state and the District of Columbia to host college application events and reach students in their schools and communities, encouraging them to apply to college. Activities in 2023 included college application drives, financial aid workshops, and one-on-one mentoring for academic and career planning support.

“We have seen firsthand how communities can transform the lives of students and their entire trajectories as they navigate life after high school and into college,” ACAC Director Lisa King said. “I’m so proud for ACAC to recognize more School of Excellence winners this year than ever before. It’s a thrill to celebrate the exceptional work of these educators and communities who are supporting students to take the first steps beyond high school.”

Nationally, the campaign has served nearly 4.7 million students who have submitted nearly 8.7 million applications since 2005. This is the fifth year that ACAC has recognized outstanding schools.

For more information, visit https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac.

To learn more about College Countdown Mississippi, visit get2college.org/college-countdown.

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About the American College Application Campaign
The American College Application Campaign (ACAC), a national initiative of ACT®’s Center for Equity in Learning, is designed to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families who pursue a postsecondary degree. The purpose is to assist high school seniors as they navigate the college application and admissions process and ensure each participating student submits at least one admissions application. https://equityinlearning.act.org/acac/

About ACT®
ACT® is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people achieve education and workplace success. Grounded in more than 60 years of research, ACT® is a trusted leader in college and career readiness solutions. Each year, ACT® serves millions of students, job seekers, schools, government agencies and employers in the U.S. and around the world with learning resources, assessments, research and credentials designed to help them succeed from elementary school through career. Visit us at www.act.org.

Contact:
Allie Ciaramella; allie.ciaramella@act.org
Brandi Lyndall; blyndall@get2college.org