Students must graduate with a minimum high school grade point average of 3.0 in core subjects. Core subjects do not include electives, but must include four courses each of English, mathematics and social science and three natural science courses during the high school career. Students must also attain an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for all of their courses. Home-schooled students and those who take the General Equivalency Diploma test must score at least 2,500 on the GED test to qualify. Home-schooled students must also provide documentation of their status from their local school district.
The CFWV requires minimum scores on either the ACT or SAT college entrance examination tests. National ACT minimum acceptable scores are 22 in composite and 20 each in English, mathematics, science and reading. Combined SAT scores must be at least 1020 with no less than 490 in critical reading and 480 in mathematics.
Promise scholarships are automatically renewed if the student meets three requirements. She must be enrolled in a participating school as a full-time student. She must attain at least a 2.75 grade average on a 4.0 scale in the first year of enrollment, and 3.0 in each following year. She must complete at least 30 credit hours of classes in each 12-month period.
While not required as a condition of eligibility, the CFWV strongly encourages students to complete a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer community service during high school and college. This includes service with nonprofit, government or community agencies providing services to local residents.
All Promise applicants must file a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, in addition to the Promise Scholarship application by March 1 prior to beginning school in the fall.