GOWRIE — Southeast Valley High School was one of 71 schools statewide to be named a FAFSA School of Achievement by the Iowa Department of Education.

The recognition is awarded to schools that have shown success in aiding high school students and increasing the number of students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as part of the Course to College program.

As part of the Course to College program, schools set a goal as to the percentage of the senior class they’d like to reach for completing the FAFSA. According to Jenny Eckert, Southeast Valley High School counselor, last year the school not only met its goal but exceeded it.

“We are really proud of the hard work we put in last year helping seniors and their families with the FAFSA,” said Eckert. “We look forward to new goals this FAFSA season.”

According to Eckert, the school worked with senior students and families on how to create Federal Student Aid identification, hosted FAFSA Nights where students and families could come in and receive assistance in going through the online form, and met with students weekly to provide additional FAFSA help.