Caldwell County Schools is among 11 school districts that will participate in a new seven-year, $35 million GEAR UP grant awarded to Appalachian State University.
The federal grant, administered through App State’s Office of Rural Promise, will support college and career preparation for about 14,000 middle and high school students and their families across Western North Carolina.
The new program, called GEAR UP APEX Northwest, began Oct. 1. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute also is one of four higher education partners participating in the initiative.
GEAR UP, short for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a U.S. Department of Education program designed to help students prepare for education and training after high school. Services include academic support, college and career planning, family engagement, and professional development for educators.
Along with Caldwell County, participating school districts in this grant include Alleghany, Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey counties. The grant covers 31 middle schools and 27 high schools.
Higher education partners are CCC&TI, Catawba Valley Community College, Mayland Community College, and Wilkes Community College.
“The Office of Rural Promise is excited to expand our reach to more counties in Western North Carolina with this GEAR UP grant,” said Dr. James Beeler, executive director of the Office of Rural Promise. “Along with our K–12 and higher education partners, we share a passion for serving the region, uncovering possibilities, and helping more students prepare to succeed after high school.”
App State has operated GEAR UP programs nearly every year since 1999 and also is administering grants awarded in 2020 and 2024. With the latest award, the university’s GEAR UP programs serve about 42,000 students across 22 Western North Carolina school districts.
App State reported that 98% of students in schools participating in its previous GEAR UP programs graduated from high school on time in 2024-25, compared with a statewide rate of 88%.
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