Post Secondary Planning
School Counseling:
Upon entering high school, you should develop a four-year plan of academic study that is challenging and fulfilling. Your plan will be shaped as you learn new information about yourself and the world of work. One of the services provided to help you with academic planning is Individual Planning Meetings between you and your school counselor. This meeting results in the development of your Student Success Plan with career, education, social-emotional, and post-secondary goals. You and your counselor will update the plan annually. Your plan is stored in Naviance, a web-based tool that also allows you to explore career options, research colleges and technical schools, complete interest inventories, and manage the college application process.
You will also participate in classroom or group school counseling lessons two-three times a year. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to participate in college and career events.
Career Counseling:
Career development and awareness are integrated throughout the curriculum in all academic subject areas and across all grade levels. Your school counselor can assist you with all aspects of career development. Additionally, each high school is fully equipped with a career center as a resource for students and families to assist with post-high school planning. Some services include information about employment and volunteer opportunities, visits from college admissions representatives, financial aid/FAFSA assistance, scholarship application help, and military information sessions. The Career Center is supervised by a school counselor/career counselor.
Standardized Testing:
Students should explore the various admission tests for post-secondary opportunities.
The ACT (American College Test) is designed to measure high school students’ college readiness in English, math, reading, science, and writing (optional). Students in their junior year and senior year in high school are encouraged to sit for the ACT. Students can qualify for fee waivers on test administration days throughout the year. For additional ACT information and test dates, visit ACT resources.
The ASVAB is a multi-aptitude test, administered by the Department of Defense to students interested in joining the military. This test helps to establish if you are a good fit for the military and which branch of service. The better your ASVAB score, the broader your options.
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a diagnostic tool, provides real-time/real-place experience of a standardized assessment similar to the SAT, and is the qualifying test for National Merit Corporation scholarship opportunities for Juniors. The exam is offered to all sophomore and junior students during the school day in October, free of cost. We encourage all sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT and explore the PSAT resources that are available.
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) measures the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in an English-speaking university or college. The TOEFL is accepted by more than 11,000 universities and other institutions in over 190 countries. The TOEFL focuses on English used in an academic setting, which is why schools and universities use TOEFL scores for admissions purposes.
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) measures a high school student's readiness for college and provides colleges. The SAT is offered to all juniors in the spring, during the school day at their high school, free of cost. Students can qualify for fee waivers on test administration days throughout the year. Students should check the specific college requirements to determine if the institution is test-optional and if SAT Subject tests are required. For additional SAT information and test dates, visit SAT resources.