New program guarantees acceptance to Pitt for top graduates from each Pittsburgh high school

Any Pittsburgh Public Schools student who graduates as high school valedictorian or salutatorian now will be guaranteed acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh, officials announced this week.

The Pittsburgh Public Scholars program, announced by Pitt chancellor Patrick Gallagher during Friday’s board of trustees meeting, will begin in the fall of 2018.

Through the program, the top graduates of each high school in Pittsburgh Public Schools can attend the Pitt campus of their choice.

“A Pitt education is transformative,” Mr. Gallagher said. “The Pittsburgh Public Scholars program enables us to support students who have earned this opportunity and it gives us yet another way to invest in our local community and our city’s future.”

Those students who choose to attend the Pitt will also be eligible for $2,000 in aid each year for four years, and students who qualify for federal Pell grants will be eligible for full scholarships.

“The University of Pittsburgh continues to demonstrate its commitment to the academic success of Pittsburgh Public Schools students,” school district superintendent Anthony Hamlet said. “The Pittsburgh scholars program ensures that students who rise to the top of their class can continue their education at a local renowned institution.”