TAKING A GLIMPSE INTO AND PREPARING FOR

YOUR FUTUREClass of 2016

Overview

Attaining senior status Track completion of courses Opportunities for credit recovery

Earning a diploma from WHS What is required?

Course/Credit Requirements Complete Grad Log Review 2015-2016 course requests

MCAS Competency Determination Post-secondary planning

Senior status

Credits needed By June 2015, 16 credits earned Review transcripts

Total the credits attained in grades 9, 10, 11 Less than 16 credits attained?

Credit recovery Opportunities/Guidelines

Summer school Senior status in August 2015

Night school Senior status in January 2016

Earning a diploma from WHS Completion of 22 units of credit

distributed among the following subject areasSubject area Credits Required

for WHSCredits Req’d for

4 year college

English 4 4

Math 3 4

History 3 3

Science 2 3

Foreign Language - 2

Applied/Fine Art 1 1

Health .5 -

Financial Literacy/Family Life

.5 -

Physical Education 2 -

Electives 6 5

Total 22 22

2015-2016 Course Requests

Add your senior year selected courses to your grad log Do you satisfy each academic area to meet

graduation requirements? IF NOT, see your counselor ASAP!

Senior year courses should be appropriately challenging Consider taking AP or Honors Courses Consider Dual Enrollment at a local college

MCAS Competency Determination

Must meet the competency determination standard (http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/graduation.html)

English Language Arts (ELA) Mathematics Science and Technology/Engineering (STE)

Competency Determination (CD) Advanced (260-280) Proficient (240-258) Needs Improvement (220-238) Failing (200-218)

Meeting the MCAS Competency Determination (CD) Graduation Requirement

• Met CD• No further testing

required

ELA: Earned a scaled score of

240+

• Met CD• No further testing

required

Math: Earned a scaled score of

240+

• Met CD• No further testing

required

STE: Earned a scaled score of

220+

Meeting the MCAS Competency Determination (CD) Graduation Requirement

• Met CD• Must fulfill the requirements of

an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP)

• Must enroll in and pass ELA in subsequent years

ELA: Earned a scaled score of 220-238

• Met CD• Must fulfill the requirements of

an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP)

• Must enroll in and pass Math courses in subsequent years

Math: Earned a scaled

score of 220-238

Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP)

An EPP must be developed for any student in the class of 2010 and beyond who does not meet or exceed the Proficient level (a minimum scaled score of 240) on the grade 10 ELA and/or Mathematics tests. (http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/graduation.html)

Each EPP includes: Student's strengths and weaknesses, based on MCAS and

other assessment results, coursework, grades, and teacher input

Courses the student will be required to take and successfully complete in grades 11 and 12

Description of the assessments the school will administer on a regular basis to determine whether the student is moving toward Proficiency

MCAS Competency Determination (CD) Graduation Requirement

• Did not meet CD• Must take re-test until a score of above 220 is

reached• Must be enrolled in an ELA course in subsequent

years

ELA: Earned a scaled score of

below 220

• Did not meet CD• Must take re-test until a score of above 220 is

reached• Must be enrolled in a Math course in subsequent

years

Math: Earned a scaled score of

below 220

• Did not meet CD• Must take the Biology re-test until a score of above

220 is reached• Must be enrolled in a Science course related to

Biology to prepare for the re-test

STE: Earned a scaled score of

below 220

Post-Secondary Planning

Work

Gap Year

Post Graduate Year

Apprenticeship Training Programs

Military

Technical/Vocational Schools

Two Year College/ Community College

Four Year College/ University

Work

What to do now… Select courses at WHS related to your career path

Consider enrolling in Work Study Internship

Visit the College and Career center to complete a career interest inventory

Check the newspaper and online listings for job announcements, (www.masslive.com)

Apply early and often Volunteer Network!!!

GAP Year

Not sure what your next step is? College? Career? A gap year is an opportunity to gain valuable life experience while working, volunteering, traveling, interning

AmeriCorps , www.americorps.org Center for Cultural Exchange, www.cci-exchange.com City Year, www.cityyear.org/chgo Rustic Pathways, ww.rusticpathways.com Worldwide Opportunities of Organic Farms, www.wwoof.org Habitat for Humanity, www.habitat.org/ivp Outward Bound, www.outwardbound.org Thinking Beyond Borders,

www.thinkingbeyondborders.com

Post Graduate Year

Attending a prep school can provide extra time to: strengthen academic and/or athletic skills Prepare for college admission testing

http://privateschool.about.com/od/students/qt/pgyear.htm

Apprenticeship Training Programs

Building and Construction Trades Active, hands-on job with variety, see the

outcome of your work Challenging, high level of skill

Become a skilled journey worker with a Union 30 Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers across

MA Earn while you learn

Attend a specific number of paid classroom trainings http://www.mass.gov/Elwd/docs/dat/

ApprenticeProgDir.05.08.09_508.pdf

Military

Branches Army (http://www.army.mil/)

Army National Guard (http://www.ng.mil/) Air Force (http://www.af.mil/)

Air National Guard (http://www.ang.af.mil/) Navy (http://www.navy.mil/) Marine Corps (http://www.marines.mil/) Coast Guard (http://www.uscg.mil/)

Speak to a recruiter Career center visits

Take ASVAB in December 2015

Technical/ Vocational Schools

Prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities

Traditionally non-academic Career-focused education

Visit the College and Career center for more information

Two-Year/ Community College

Generally open enrollment Same requirements as a high school diploma Selective programs may have additional

requirements Require placement testing (ACCUPLACER)

English & Math Cost effective alternative to a four-year

college Most credits transfer to a four-year college Good place to start if unsure of major(http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/college/community-

college)

MassCore Admission Standards for Massachusetts

State Colleges and UniversitiesMassCore

Massachusetts High School Program of Studies English/Language Arts 4 Units*

 Mathematics 4 Units

Including the completion of Algebra II or completion of the Integrated Math equivalent. All students are recommended to take a math course during their senior year.

Science 3 Units of lab-based science Coursework taken in technology/engineering may count for MassCore science credit. Note: In June 2012, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) revised its admission standards to count technology/engineering coursework based on academic standards and taken for science credit as meeting the science admissions requirement. 

History/Social Science 3 UnitsIncluding US History and World History.

Foreign Language** 2 Units Of the same language.

Physical Education 

As required by lawState law (M.G.L. c. 71,s. 3) states: “Physical education shall be taught as a required subject in all grades for all students.”

Health can be integrated into Physical Education, science, or taught as a stand-alone course.

The Arts** 1 Unit 

Additional Core Courses 5 Units Business Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), Health, Technology or any of the subjects above. Note: Most students majoring in CTE will take more than 5 units in a CTE program of study.

  22 Units - Is a minimum that students should take in high school Additional Learning Opportunities Complete as many of the following as possible:

Advanced Placement (AP); Capstone or Senior Project; Dual Enrollment courses taken for both high school and college credit; Online courses; Service Learning; and Work-based Learning.

College Admissions Tests (Required by most colleges)

SAT Reasoning Test (next test Oct. 3, 2015) Designed to assess skills and application of knowledge

Tests in Critical Reading, Mathematics, Writing Penalty for wrong answers Test scored 200-800 per section, 2400 maximum total

score (www.Collegeboard.com)

ACT (next test Sept. 12, 2015/Oct. 24, 2015) Curriculum based test

Tests in English, Math, Reading, Science Optional Writing Test (recommended) Test is scored 1-36 per section, 36 maximum composite

score (www.actstudent.org)

College Admissions Tests

SAT Subject Tests (next test date Oct 3, 2015 Nov 7 2015) Required by more competitive/selective

colleges One hour content based tests

20 different subject tests to choose from Can take up to 3 tests in one testing date,

usually 2 tests are required Speak to your counselor to help determine

which tests to take (www.collegeboard.com)

Reporting SAT/ACT Scores

Official scores required to be sent directly from the testing board Test fee includes sending scores to four

colleges Sending scores after taking the test costs

$10/college Scores sent online

www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org

Many schools are test optional, check the updated list at www.fairtest.org

Factors to Consider when Choosing a College

Admission Requirements Do your research (Be realistic!), look at the

average GPA/ Class rank, SAT/ACT Score, High school

course work (freshmen profile, collegeboard.com) Location

Distance from home Immediate surroundings (Large city/small town)

Size of Campus Large schools (15,000-35,000 students) Small schools (under 5,000 students)

Factors to Consider when Choosing a College (Cont.)

Campus Environment Physical Characteristics of campus Student : Faculty Ratio Living arrangements

Programs/Majors Offered Liberal Arts vs. Professional Preparation Reputation of academic program

Extracurricular Programs Athletics (Division I, II, III), NCAA Clearinghouse Cultural Opportunities (Art, Music, Theatre, Dance) Clubs, Activities

Cost Financial Aid/Scholarships are available

What can you do now?

Register for the SAT/ACT Conduct a comprehensive college search based on

personal interests Visit the career center to view college materials Visit college websites to narrow down options/

request information from colleges Schedule college tours over the summer Research financial aid opportunities Confirm senior schedule with school counselor Identify teachers who you will ask to write a

recommendation Continue to work hard to achieve the best grades

possible

College Search Resources

www.collegeboard.com www.actstudent.org www.petersons.com www.collegeview.com www.princetonreview.com www.anycollege.com www.fastweb.com www.fafsa.ed.gov www.mefa.org masscisintocareers.org