STUDENTS & PARENTS
shift_ed strives to help students realize and accelerate their potential.
With services for elementary, middle, high schoolers and students working toward a postsecondary ceritifcate or degree, shift_ed drives the education continuum. We believe every student can make a bold impact on our communities’ futures.
The Education Continuum
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shift_ed believes strong partnerships drive community success.
The Education Continuum opens pathways to success from cradle to career. Our support starts when a child begins school, and we walk side-by-side with families through the start of that child’s career. Equitable supports that actively engage differences and work to eliminate barriers to opportunity fuel our initiative. We meet students where they are to offer supports to students who need them most in elementary, middle, high school and college.
Elementary Supports
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Reading is the foundation for learning. In kindergarten through third grade, children are learning to read; after third grade, students read to learn. In fact third grade reading proficiency is one of the most important predictors for graduating high school. shift_ed is committed to increasing the number of students reading at grade level. We join Guilford County Schools in working to increase the percentage of students who read proficiently by the end of third grade to 54% (currently at 51.4%) by 2022.
Helps
Helping Early Learners with Practice Strategies (HELPS) is an evidenced based program designed to improve student’s reading fluency, a key factor in increasing the percentage of students who meet proficiency standards as “College and Career Ready” by the end of 3rd grade.
Community Virtual Tutoring
shift_ed coordinates a virtual tutoring program for kindergarten through 8th graders. Federal Work Study Students, Community Volunteers, and Guilford County Schools’ Service-Learning Students work one-on-one with students up to two hours a week. Tutors offer elementary support through the HELPS program, middle school learning sessions with professional tutors, and volunteers offer general subject tutoring and homework help for students K-8.
Middle School Supports
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shift_ed also supports middle school students with the Community Virtual Tutoring Program, and expands services to include preparation for high school and beyond. Our staff and volunteers work to expose students in middle grades to opportunities that wait for them after high school or college.
YouScience Career
Assessment
Students cannot dream to do a job they don’t even know exisits. shift_ed aims to help students understand where their interests and aptitude intersect. 7th grade students take the YouScience career aassessment, which is a series of puzzles and brain games that not only helps students determine what they might want to do, but also careers in which they might excel.
Entrepreneur I Am Experience
8th grade students have the opportunity to create a product or service and then pitch it, Shark Tank style to local professionals. The Entrepreneur I Am experience challenges students to think creatively and strategically while building confidence and gaining valuable work experience.
Mobile Innovation Lab
This makerspace-on-wheels takes careers of the future straight to middle school students. A partnership with Forge Greensboro, the bus is full of projects that allow students to get hands-on experience with STEM careers.
High School Supports
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shift_ed serves all 28 high schools in Guilford County Schools with supports that help students discover the opportunities waiting for them after graduation.
One-on-One Postsecondary Consultations
Equipping students and parents with relevant workforce and postsecondary information is shift_ed’s specialty. From exploring career options and FAFSA completion, to test scheduling and college application preparation, shift_ed professionals work with families and students to address their individual needs. We are dedicated to eliminating finance as a barrier to higher education by comparing financial aid packages and helping families identify and apply for various sources of financial aid.
College Planning Series
shift_ed collaborates with organizations across the community and state to offer students and families regular workshops addressing FAFSA completion, financial aid understanding, and tips for completing college and scholarship applications. Workshops also include how to budget, organize study time and prepare for the social and emotional changes they will face in college.
Free SAT/ACT Prep Classes
shift_ed provides students access strategies needed to excel on standardized tests. Data shows that students who enroll in preparatory classes score, on average, 56 points higher on their exams than their peers who did not take the class. The extra points may make the difference in access to a student’s top choice of higher educational institution and may positively impact that student’s aid and scholarships.
First Generation College Ambassador Program
In collaboration with Guilford County Schools’ Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the First Gen program gives additional support to college-bound high school students. Supports include goal setting, talent development and identifying strengths. Students have assistance with college applications, scholarships, financial aid and transitioning from high school to college.
SEO Scholars Guilford County
SEO Scholars creates a more equitable society by closing the academic and opportunity gap for motivated young people, setting the standard for academics, mentorship, community, positive peer pressure, and a powerful, lifelong network. Our free, eight-year, academic program successfully educates
and mentors underserved public high school students to and through college—with a 90% college graduation rate.
Cisco Emerging Talent Mentoring Program
High school graduates spend the summer taking classes and participating in a mentorship program with Cisco, one of the world’s top technology companies.
Higher Education Supports
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shift_ed is committed to helping college students stay on track to a certificate or degree. We offer scholarships and continued connection, so students have more success in college and accelerate their career opportunities.
shift_ed Scholar College Mentors
shift_ed regularly convenes scholar panels to offer perspective and tips on navigating college life, time management, study skills, major selection, campus involvement opportunities and much more.
Scholarships
Registration is open from October 1 through June 1 for Guilford County Schools’ (GCS) seniors and graduates. shift_ed Scholarships provide last-dollar tuition assistance to qualifying GCS graduates.
Do You Have Questions?
If you have scholarship questions, check out the shift_ed Scholarship FAQ. If you don’t find the answers you need there, get in touch — the shift_ed staff is happy to help!
(336) 814-2233
Maximizing Opportunities
shift_ed professionals counsel scholars and offer tools empowering them to effectively utilize available campus and community resources and apply their certificate attainment to the workforce.
Complete the FAFSA
The FAFSA is theFree Application for Federal Student Aid. shift_ed scholarship awards will be based on information reported on a student’s FAFSA.
A World of Choices
shift_ed offers scholarships to every North Carolina public college and university including community colleges.
Resources
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We boldly accelerate student potential in the classroom and in life. Our partners open even more patheways to success.
Scholarship Guide
Help with the FAFSA
College Application Timeline
Guilford County Schools Website
Volunteer
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Are you interested in volunteering to make a direct, positive impact in the life of a student in our community? E-mail us and a staff member will reach out to you with more information.

To be able have that scholarship, and not to have to worry about a meal plan or how I was going to pay for books or tuition meant a whole lot to me and my family as well.
High Point University Class of 2022

2019 shift_ed Book Giveaway
shift_ed delivered more than 3,300 books to GCS Elementary Schools as part of the Holiday Book Giveaway.