Victoria Lehew
Jaynish Amin
"Some kids are like I don't know if I can go to college with expenses. With the Promise, for some kids it's 100 percent, and it's changed their focus on careers," says Victoria Lehew, El Dorado High School senior.
"Every parent wants their child to do better than they did and this is an opportunity for that," says Alva Reibe, El Dorado High School vice principal.
Reibe says the unique $50 million Promise scholarship has changed students' lives. Three years ago, Murphy Oil said it wants to increase the number of students who attend college. The Promise pays up to the highest in-state public tuition and fees for students who've attended El Dorado High School since at least the ninth grade.
"I'm from Dartford, England, and my parents had a great opportunity to start a business," says Jaynish Amin, El Dorado high school senior.
Amin's family moved here seven years ago and he'll receive 75 percent of the scholarship.
"We moved here on business and didn't know about the El Dorado Promise. It was icing on the cake," says Amin.
According to Murphy Oil, families from 31 different states and 13 foreign countries have relocated to El Dorado since the Promise started.
Since the Eldorado Promise began, the high school has seen a dramatic difference in parental involvement and teachers have changed up their curriculum, so it's more rigorous and students are better prepared for college.
Last year, 79 percent of Promise graduates enrolled in college, which is higher than the state and national rate. And a quarter of them are first generation college students like Jerrica Gentle.
"My family are very proud of me, and I'm proud of myself that I made it this far," says Gentle.
Over the years, 600 students have enrolled in college. It's a promise fulfilled in El Dorado.
One thousand new students have enrolled in the El Dorado school district since it started. That reflects a four percent increase overall.