Below are some helpful tips about college prep and applying for FAFSA for parents and guardians of high school students. Keep in mind that all high school seniors applying for FAFSA should do so as quickly as possible after the opening date of December 1, 2024. Colleges will use this information to apply merit-based and need-based scholarships to your child's tuition to help bring down costs. FAFSA also shows if your child qualifies for Federal Grants and college-based work-study programs. If the entire tuition is not covered after scholarships, grants, and work-study, then there is also the option to apply for Federal Student Aid in the form of student and parent loans.

Bright Futures information is NOT filed through FAFSA, but is instead filed through the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA). Please see the info regarding Bright Futures in the Scholarships Tab of this website.

We will be hosting a FAFSA Family Night on October 8, 2025 for our Seniors and their families! RGSA will notify families via this site and the parent call out/email. Students will also receive information in their English classes. Be sure to register using the link below.

College & Career Family Night (9-12).pptx

College & Career Night 2024-25 PowerPoint

(9th-12th)

Be sure to reach out to your child's high school counselor, Nicole Parsons, if you have any questions or concerns by emailing her at nicole.parsons@rgsa.com

We will be hosting another College & Career Family Night for the 25/26 school year. Date TBD.

Scholar & Collegiate Program Information: 2025

If you were unable to attend the Family Night about Ridgeview's Scholar & Collegiate Programs, please read through the information in the slides provided here. If you have any further questions, feel free to email Mr. Thacker at charles.thacker@rgsa.com

Scholar Collegiate Parent Night Info for Sharing - NOT Narrated (1).pdf

FAFSA Resources & Information:

FAFSA Family Night co 2025.pptx

FAFSA Family Night for Seniors PowerPoint from Dec. 11, 2024

Be sure to reach out to your child's high school counselor, Nicole Parsons, if you have any questions or concerns by emailing her at nicole.parsons@rgsa.com

Class of 2026 FAFSA Family Night Coming Soon:

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

Senior students and Families Register Here: https://forms.office.com/r/Z5zB34QXNk

FAFSA Links:

Please remember that BOTH the student AND their parent(s) must create an FSA ID in order to enter information and sign the FAFSA.

StudentAid.gov

FAFSA Presentation - 2025-26.pdf

FAFSA 2025-26 Tutorials

Feel free to click through the PowerPoint to see examples of what each section of the FAFSA will look like with directions on how to proceed.

This will be updated after the October 8, 2025 meeting.

Getting your FAFSA FSA ID

Before FAFSA Family Night, and before you can fill out the online FAFSA application, you MUST have an FSA ID. Each parent/guardian filling out the FAFSA and the student need their OWN Federal Student Aid ID. FSA IDs cannot be shared. Here are step-by-step instructions on how everyone can get their FSA ID. Please allow 7-10 days to get your ID prior to FAFSA Family Night!

Class of 2026 Update: We were told this is no longer necessary - that the StudentAid.gov site automatically updates with just a social security number, however, we are waiting for confirmation before deleting this section. Stay Tuned!

2024 FSA ID Directions.docx

Link for Bright Futures:

FFAA Links:

This link takes you to the Bright Futures login page to create a student account.

FFAA Application for students

Does my child qualify for an ACT/SAT Fee Waiver?

Please look at the criteria below to see if your child meets the qualifications for getting a fee waiver. Fee waivers not only offer free registration for the ACT or SAT exams, but they can also cover college application fees, send free score reports to colleges and universities, and provide free test prep resources, saving families HUNDREDS of dollars!

SAT-ACT Fee Waiver Form 2022-23.docx