Homeschool benefits and savings in Caldwell County
The Harold F. Coffey Scholarship is a merit award at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) for a graduate of Caldwell County Schools or a certified homeschool in Caldwell County who has at least a 3.5 GPA and is not eligible for a Pell Grant. Your student is considered for it, and more than 100 other Foundation scholarships worth $250 to $2,500, through one application due December 1, 2026, for spring 2027.
Who qualifies
Graduated from a certified homeschool
The scholarship is open to graduates of Caldwell County Schools or of a certified homeschool within Caldwell County.
Has at least a 3.5 GPA
A 3.5 GPA is the minimum, and the Foundation prefers students in the top 10% of their class.
Is not Pell Grant eligible
The award is for students who do not qualify for a federal Pell Grant, so your student must file the 2026-27 FAFSA for the college to confirm it.
Studies for an AAS or AS
Your student must be enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Associate of Science (AS) degree program and show civic or community involvement.
What it is worth
The terms come from the CCC&TI 2026-27 catalog and the Foundation's scholarship pages.
- Foundation scholarship award range
- $250-$2,500
- Scholarships one application reaches
- Over 100
- Spring 2027 priority deadline
- Oct. 20, 2026
- Spring 2027 final deadline
- Dec. 1, 2026
- Essay length
- Up to 250 words
Neither the catalog nor the Foundation pages give the Coffey Scholarship's own amount, so ask scholarships@cccti.edu what it pays this year.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Apply to CCC&TI and file the FAFSA
Your student must be enrolled at or have applied to the college and must complete the 2026-27 FAFSA.
- By Oct. 20, 2026
Submit the Foundation application
Fill out the single Foundation scholarship application, with answers on work experience, honors, campus and community involvement, and a short essay. You can save it and return later.
- By Dec. 1, 2026
Final deadline
Applications submitted after the priority date are still accepted until the final deadline for spring 2027 awards.
- After you submit
Send aid documents
Follow the confirmation email to send your FAFSA Submission Summary or Financial Aid Award Letter to the Foundation Office.
- When awarded
Watch email and mail
Recipients are notified at the email address on the application, and an official award letter follows by mail.
What it pays for
Covered
- A merit award for an AAS or AS student
- Consideration for over 100 Foundation scholarships
Not covered
- Pell Grant eligible students
- Programs other than AAS and AS degrees
The Coffey Foundation and Harold Coffey's family and friends set up the scholarship in 2019, and Foundation awards are paid only as funding allows.
Who to contact
The Foundation Office runs the scholarship application and answers questions about awards and required documents.
scholarships@cccti.edu 828-726-2200 Foundation scholarships
Homeschool rules and statewide help in North Carolina
You must file the Notice of Intent with DNPE at least five business days before home instruction begins; wait for DNPE acknowledgment before withdrawing or starting. No annual renewal is required while operating; notify DNPE when the school closes.
North Carolina sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum. Operate on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
- Testing: Administer a nationally standardized achievement test each year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
- Records: Keep attendance and immunization records. Retain annual test results for at least one year and make them available to DNPE on request.
- Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent in North Carolina.
North Carolina also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- Education Student Accounts (ESA+) pay $9,000 a year, or $17,000 for certain disabilities, to students with a documented disability, including homeschooled students. Funding can run out before the school year starts.
Read the North Carolina homeschooling guide See statewide programs in North Carolina
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschool graduate get the Coffey Scholarship?
- Yes. The catalog names graduates of a certified homeschool within Caldwell County as eligible, next to Caldwell County Schools graduates.
- Do we apply for the Coffey Scholarship separately?
- No. One Foundation application puts your student in the running for more than 100 scholarships, including merit-based awards like this one.
- Why does Pell Grant eligibility matter?
- This award is meant for students who do not receive a Pell Grant. The FAFSA shows whether your student qualifies for one.
- Is the essay long?
- No. The essay can be up to 250 words, and the Foundation suggests typing your answers before you start the online form.
- Can my student use it for a diploma or certificate program?
- No. The Coffey Scholarship is limited to Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Science degree programs.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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