Post-Secondary Resources

Planning for Life After High School

Every Cumberland Academy senior needs a post-secondary plan before graduation, whether that plan is college, a career, or the military. Use the resources on this page to explore your options, pay for school, and find scholarships. Our Student Success Coordinator and Admin team are here to help you every step of the way!

TSIA2 and Texas College Bridge

All Cumberland Academy seniors take the TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment) in Reading/Writing and Math. The TSIA2 shows whether a student is ready for college-level courses, and passing it is one way to earn CCMR.

Students who do not pass the TSIA2 will be enrolled in Texas College Bridge, an online program that prepares students for college-level work. If a student passes one part of the TSIA2 but not the other, they will only take College Bridge for the subject they did not pass.

Students must finish their College Bridge coursework with a 90 or above. When they finish, they earn a certificate of completion that is added to their official transcript, and it counts toward CCMR.

Paying for College: FAFSA & TASFA

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is used by the federal government, the State of Texas, colleges, and many scholarship programs to decide who receives financial aid. Completing the FAFSA, the TASFA, or the Opt-Out Form is also a Texas graduation requirement.

Students who are Texas residents but are not eligible for federal aid can complete the TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) to apply for state aid instead.

Apply for the FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov

Learn about the TASFA: https://www.highered.texas.gov/students-families/tasfa/

Need the Opt-Out Form or want to know where to send your confirmation? See the Graduation Requirements page.

TJC Promise

The TJC Promise can cover tuition and fees for up to two years at Tyler Junior College for qualifying students in the TJC tax district. To earn and keep the TJC Promise, students must:

Sign the TJC Promise Pledge during the first semester of 9th grade (the deadline is usually December 1-15)
Keep at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA each year and graduate college-ready
Have 5 or fewer unexcused absences in the second semester of freshman year, and 10 or fewer each year after that
Have no more than one disciplinary action during high school and advance with their class each year
Complete 25 community service hours by April 30 of senior year
Attend a participating Promise high school, like Cumberland, for at least 2 full years and graduate on time
Complete the FAFSA and the TJC general scholarship application by April 1 of senior year
Enroll at TJC in the fall right after graduation

Good to know: The TJC Promise covers tuition and fees only, not books, housing, or living expenses. Students must keep meeting the requirements every year to stay eligible. Learn more at https://tjc.edu/scholarships/tjc-promise/

Finding Scholarships

There are three main types of scholarships:

Merit-based: for grades, talents, or achievements
Need-based: for students who show financial need
Special group: for certain groups, such as military families or local residents

Where to look:

University scholarships: Apply to colleges early so you don't miss scholarship deadlines (many are around November 1). Search "College Name + Freshman Scholarships" to find each school's options. Universities offer the most scholarship money. Some are automatic, and others need an application.
Local scholarships: Search local businesses and organizations, such as "Company Name Scholarship."
National scholarships: These are open to students across the country and are more competitive. Try search sites like BigFuture, Unigo, Scholarships.com, or Niche.
Your graduating class Google Classroom: Check often for new scholarship postings.

Student-athletes: The Cumberland Academy Athletic Booster Club (CAAB) awards college scholarships to graduating senior student-athletes. For application details, email caabc@cumberlandacademy.com

Helpful Links for College, Career & Beyond

Texas OnCourse (college and career planning): https://texasoncourse.org
MyTexasFuture (explore colleges and careers): https://www.mytexasfuture.org/middle-high-school/
Texas Career Check (compare careers and salaries): https://texascareercheck.com
College Board (SAT, AP, and college search): https://www.collegeboard.org
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): https://studentaid.gov
TASFA (Texas state aid): https://www.highered.texas.gov/students-families/tasfa/
MyTexasFuture Scholarship Guide: https://www.mytexasfuture.org/middle-high-school/explore-financial-aid/apply-for-scholarships/
Mapping Your Future: http://www.mappingyourfuture.org
Fastweb (scholarship search): http://www.fastweb.com
TJC Promise: https://tjc.edu/scholarships/tjc-promise/

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