From $55 Million to $737 Million: Aldine ISD Partnership Expands College Access for Hundreds of Seniors

Aldine ISD seniors are reaching new heights in college access.

As of Feb. 23, the Class of 2026 has generated $737,682,162.15 in scholarship offers and 13,334 individual admissions and scholarship offers. These figures indicate that Aldine ISD seniors are accessing more higher education opportunities than ever before. This total already surpasses last year’s record-setting Class of 2025, which secured more than $520 million in offers, demonstrating strong, growing momentum for Aldine ISD students.

District leaders note that Aldine ISD’s partnership with the EAB’s Appily Match program, an innovative platform that connects students with colleges and universities nationwide, is driving this momentum.

Nearly 1,012 Aldine ISD seniors — slightly more than one-quarter of the district’s 3,945 graduating seniors — have created profiles through the program. Of those students, 947 have already received at least one admissions or scholarship offer, averaging more than 14 offers per participating student, according to Michael Minter, director of college readiness with the Aldine ISD Office of Postsecondary Outcomes.

“Our students are now being discovered by colleges in ways that weren’t possible before,” said Minter, who oversees scholarship initiatives for the district. “Instead of navigating dozens of separate applications, students can create one profile and colleges contact them with real admissions and scholarship opportunities.”

A New Approach to College Admissions

The Appily Match program flips the traditional admissions process. Students complete an online profile highlighting their academic interests, achievements, and college preferences. Colleges review those profiles and send admissions offers — often bundled with scholarship packages — directly to students.

Because students receive only positive offers, the process reduces stress and uncertainty and helps families understand financial options earlier in the college decision timeline.

District leaders say the approach removes common barriers to college access, particularly for first-generation students. It eliminates multiple applications, essays, and fees, and expands awareness of institutions students might not have considered.

Students in Aldine ISD have already received offers from institutions such as Colorado State University, Purdue University, Cornell University, Tuskegee University, and the Savannah College of Art and Design, among others.

Rapid Growth in Opportunity

The Appily Match initiative’s results dramatically shift scholarship access for Aldine students and show the new approach’s clear impact.

Before the EAB Appily Match partnership, the district’s highest recorded scholarship total was $55 million prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Appily Match program was introduced as a pilot during the 2024-2025 school year, with subsequent scholarship totals reflecting its impact.

Since implementing the Match platform, scholarship offers have grown — surpassing $520 million for the Class of 2025 and already exceeding $737 million for the Class of 2026, with several months of the current school year remaining.

Minter said Aldine ISD’s strong engagement with the platform has also drawn attention from other districts.

“I was recently invited to participate in a panel for districts highly engaged with the EAB’s Appily Match platform,” Minter said. “We shared how the program is impacting our students’ college search process and how we see the platform continuing to expand opportunities for them.”

District leaders noted that participation levels vary by campus as implementation expands. For example, La Promesa High School launched its Appily Match initiative on Feb. 11. It is expected to be reflected in district totals beginning in mid-March.

Accelerating Opportunity

Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney said the milestone reflects Aldine ISD’s continued commitment to expanding opportunities for students beyond graduation.

“When we talk about Accelerate, we are talking about accelerating opportunity,” Goffney said. “Every scholarship offer represents a door opening for our students and their families. Our goal goes beyond graduation. We’re ensuring Aldine students have a clear pathway to college, career, and lifelong success.”

With several months remaining in the school year and student participation still growing, district leaders expect scholarship totals for the Class of 2026 to continue climbing as more students complete profiles and additional universities join the EAB Appily Match network.