How small, caring schools drove a FAFSA surge in Washington

At Summit Public Schools, preparing students for life after graduation is both the mission and a design principle. As a network of small, charter public high schools in California and Washington, Summit centers every decision on building college-ready academic foundations, real-world readiness, and deep relationships with each student.

In 2025, two Washington campuses, Summit Atlas and Summit Sierra, emerged as state leaders in FAFSA completion. But the story behind that success goes beyond strong numbers at two schools. It is rooted in a shared, student-centered system that equips young people with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to take real steps toward their futures.

We spoke with Dan Effland, currently Summit’s Senior Director of Innovation and former school leader at Summit Atlas and Summit Sierra, about what made this surge possible and what other schools might take away.

Q: How did Summit schools achieve such high FAFSA completion this year?

A: What made this year’s success possible was an intentional system built over many years. FAFSA completion has always been deeply tied to how we support postsecondary planning across the network. Every student at Summit has a dedicated mentor who they meet with weekly. Mentors know their students’ stories, their goals, and the steps they need to take to reach them including navigating financial aid.

We align our postsecondary planning tools, training, and timelines across schools. When the new form rolled out we closely tracked the emerging guidance and supported staff with real-time data on completion of forms. We offered resources that allowed our teams to act early and often, especially with students who might not have otherwise completed the form.

Q: Why is FAFSA a priority for Summit?

A: Because access without affordability isn’t real access. FAFSA is one of the most critical steps in unlocking postsecondary opportunities, and one of the most inequitable if not supported well. Families often encounter confusing language, technical barriers, or assumptions that financial aid isn’t worth the effort. It also must be finished as early in the process as possible so that students have all of the information they need to make informed decisions about their next step. This is where mentoring and school-wide coordination make a huge difference. When students feel supported, and when adults are aligned on timelines and tools, completion becomes the norm, rather than the exception.

Q: What advice would you offer to other schools or systems?

A: At Summit, our postsecondary pathways counseling is centered on helping each student identify their best-fit next step after high school. That includes a realistic look at affordability – balancing potential debt with future earnings to make informed choices. Completing the FAFSA is a critical part of this process, opening access to financial aid options that can shape what’s possible for our students. So, you have to emphasize its importance in the process. Yes, it’s an annoying form, but it’s really about helping students see the full picture of their options for their future. To do any of this well, you have to build postsecondary planning into the school culture, not treating it as an isolated senior-year task.

Second, empower your staff. Provide them with the data, training, and time they need to guide students and families through every step. That’s what allowed us to move from intention to action.

Finally, design with equity at the center. FAFSA barriers don’t affect all students equally. We focused on early outreach, multilingual resources, and targeted support for students furthest from opportunity. That’s what moved the needle.

Q: What’s next for Summit?

A: We’re building on this momentum. FAFSA completion is one piece of a larger puzzle: ensuring every student graduates with a Concrete Next Step: a clear, chosen, and achievable plan for what comes next. That’s our north star.

At Summit, we believe readiness is lived, not theoretical. It’s visible in the choices students make, the confidence they carry, and the way they take ownership of their next chapter.

Summit Public Schools operates small, caring public schools in Washington and California that prepare students to succeed in college, career, and life. Learn more at summitps.org.