McAllen ISD reports $66.8 million in scholarships for class of 2025 and $5.3 million in parent savings from dual enrollment

McAllen ISD reported Oct. 21 that students in the class of 2025 collectively received $66,766,618 in scholarship awards, an increase from $49.2 million the previous year, and that dual-enrollment and dual-credit work produced an estimated $5,316,850 in parental savings.

Norma Cabrera, director for college, career and counseling, presented campus-by-campus scholarship totals and college-application and FAFSA/TASFA completion rates. She said the district's goal is to have 100% of students apply for financial aid as a graduation requirement, though some students opt out.

Cabrera reported college-application submission rates by campus: McAllen High School 88%, Memorial 94% and Achieve Early College High School 100%, among other campus figures. She also said Achieve graduates completed 91 associate degrees and that dual-enrollment credits at South Texas College and UTRGV saved families money; the presentation used a conservative $350 per credit-hour valuation to estimate a $4,227,650 saving at South Texas College and smaller amounts from other providers totaling $5,316,850.

Board members praised counselors' work and discussed marketing and outreach to retain students and inform families about McAllen ISD program options. Trustees asked how the district planned to promote dual enrollment and other special programs to compete with charter schools; administrators said the district is developing a marketing plan and a December "McAllen Has It All" event to present program pathways to families.

Why this matters: Scholarship gains and dual-enrollment savings are central to college access and affordability for district families, and the figures indicate the scale of external financial support students attracted in 2025.

No formal action was required; Cabrera said the district will continue campus-level FAFSA nights and a district FAFSA/financial-aid event planned for the next day.