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 required books and materials for a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 18 credits for both fall and spring semesters.
- The student is responsible for transportation, housing, 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.
The following information provides details and eligibility requirements.
Upcoming Student & Family Info Sessions
Wednesday, October 16th: ASCENT at 3:30 pm, TREP at 4:00 pm
Thursday, October 17th: ASCENT 8:30 am, TREP 9:00 am
Thursday, October 24th: ASCENT 4:00 pm, TREP 4:30 pm
All sessions will be virtual through Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/fuo-iczh-hmn
Jeffco’s ASCENT Partner Colleges
- Arapahoe Community College
- Community College of Denver
- Front Range Community College
- Emily Griffith Technical College
- Metropolitan State University
- Red Rocks Community College
- Northeastern Junior Community College
Jeffco’s TREP Partner Colleges
- Arapahoe Community College
- Red Rocks Community College
- Metropolitan State University
- Northeastern Junior Community College
- University of Northern Colorado
- Western Colorado University
Benefit of ASCENT and TREP
You get to take college classes for a year while Jeffco Public Schools pays your college tuition, fees and required books and materials.
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, dental assisting, automotive, welding or precision machining.
With TREP, you can complete the first two years of your education degree, then transfer to a 4-year 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 a current 4th year senior who will meet all high school graduation requirements by the end of their 12th grade year and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
- Be enrolled in a Jeffco public high school as a full-time student for both 11th and 12th grades
ASCENT specific:
- Be on track to complete at least nine credit hours of transcripted college coursework prior to June 30th
- Has a postsecondary education plan that ties the earned college coursework to a specific certificate or degree program
TREP specific:
- Be on track to complete at least one of the state required Educator Pathway Courses prior to June 30th
- Has a postsecondary education plan of becoming a teacher for grades PK-12
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