ASCENT and TREP Scholarship Programs
ASCENT and TREP scholarship programs are established by and are funded through the Colorado Department of Education. These programs help students continue their postsecondary education by keeping them enrolled at their home high school and using state funding to cover college tuition and fees.
Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment (ASCENT) is a fifth-year scholarship program that allows eligible seniors to remain enrolled at the high school and take a fifth year consisting entirely of college classes at a Jeffco partner college.
Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation (TREP) is a two-year program that allows eligible seniors to remain enrolled at the high school and take a fifth and sixth year consisting entirely of college classes.
The main similarities between ASCENT and TREP are:
- They cover tuition, fees and cost of books for a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 18 credits for the fall and spring semesters.
- The student is responsible for other expenses including transportation and living expenses.
- They do not cover students who require financial aid in addition to ASCENT or TREP.
The main differences between ASCENT and TREP are:
- ASCENT is for one year, the student’s fifth year. TREP is for two years, the student’s fifth and sixth year.
- TREP is for courses that apply to a teaching pathway or Guarantee Transfer courses. ASCENT is for a variety of courses that apply to a career pathway, certificate or degree.
- ASCENT is available at six college campuses. TREP is available at four campuses.
The following information provides details and eligibility requirements.
Jeffco’s ASCENT Partner Colleges
- Arapahoe Community College (Littleton Campus)
- Community College of Denver (Auraria Campus)
- Front Range Community College (Westminster Campus)
- Metropolitan State University (Auraria Campus)
- Red Rocks Community College (Arvada/Lakewood Campus)
- Northeastern Junior Community College
Jeffco’s TREP Partner Colleges
- Arapahoe Community College (Littleton Campus)
- Red Rocks Community College (Arvada/Lakewood Campus)
- Metropolitan State University (Auraria Campus)
- Northeastern Junior Community College
Benefit of ASCENT and TREP
You get to take college classes for a year while Jeffco Public Schools pays your college tuition, fees and books.
ASCENT will help cover most or all of the rest of your certificate or AAS degree if you are a Warren Tech student in cosmetology, automotive, welding or precision machining.
With TREP, you can complete the first two years of your education degree, then transfer to another college with a significant number of credits already completed.
You can complete general education prerequisites at very little cost and transfer to another college, saving money.
Student Eligibility
- Be under the age of 21.
- Has a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
- Enrolled in a Jeffco school as a full-time student for 11th and 12th grade.
- Be on track to graduate in May of their 12th-grade year.
ASCENT specific:
- Be on track to complete at least nine credit hours of college coursework before completing 12th grade.
- Has identified a pathway they wish to study.
TREP specific:
- Complete at least one approved TREP course during their 12th-grade year.
- Has identified classroom teaching as a pathway they wish to study.
Approved Coursework
Frequently Asked Questons
- Should all qualified students participate?
- What will Jeffco pay for?
- What is expected of ASCENT and TREP scholars?
- What is the process for becoming an ASCENT or TREP scholar?
- Does program participation impact financial aid I may receive?
- If I stay enrolled for a fifth or sixth year, when will I be considered a high school graduate?
- Which college classes can I take?
- Can I participate in college activities and athletics?
- Can I live in the dorms?
- What else do I need to know?
Should all qualified students participate?
What will Jeffco pay for?
What is expected of ASCENT and TREP scholars?
What is the process for becoming an ASCENT or TREP scholar?
Does program participation impact financial aid I may receive?
If I stay enrolled for a fifth or sixth year, when will I be considered a high school graduate?
Which college classes can I take?
Can I participate in college activities and athletics?
Can I live in the dorms?
What else do I need to know?
Contact Us
Postsecondary Opportunities
Phone: 303-982-7842
Email: jenn.edgar@jeffco.k12.co.us