PONCHATOULA
HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR PARENT MEETING
Remind 101
Graduation Requirements
Post-secondary Options
ACT/SAT/Compass
TOPS
Financial Aid
Scholarships
College Search
Class of 2015 – Text reminders from Remind101
Ponchatoula High School App
Graduation
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Graduation Requirements
Diploma Track (specific course requirements)
Core 4 (24 credits)
Basic (24 credits, AOC)
Career (23 credits, AOC)
EOC (End of Course tests)
English II or English III
Algebra I or Geometry
Biology I or US History
Louisiana High School Graduation Requirements
PHS Course Offerings
(for students entering 9th grade in August 2008 through August 2013)
La Core 4 Curriculum
English – 4 units
English I, I, III, and IV
Math – 4 units
Algebra I or Algebra I Pt. 2
Geometry
Algebra II
Remaining unit shall come from the
following: Financial Math, Math
Essentials, Advanced Math –
PreCalculus, Advanced Math –
Functions and Statistics, Calculus
Science – 4 units
Biology
Chemistry
2 units from the following: Physical
Science, Integrated Science,
Physics, Biology II, Chemistry II,
Environmental Science, Agriscience
II, Anatomy and Physiology
Social Studies – 4 units
Civics
American History
2 units from the following: World
Geography, World History,
Psychology
Health – ½ unit
Physical Education – 1 1/2 units
Foreign Language – 2 units
2 units from the same foreign
language or 2 units of speech
Arts – 1 unit
Fine Arts Survey or one unit of Art,
Music, or Theatre
Elective – 3 units
Total units = 24
Basic Core Curriculum
English – 4 units
English I, II, III, and IV or Senior
Applications in English
Math – 4 units
Algebra I or Algebra I Pt. 2
Geometry
Remaining units shall come from
the following: Algebra II, Financial
Math, Math Essentials, Advanced
Math – PreCalculus, Advanced Math
– Functions and Statistics, Calculus
Science – 3 units
Biology
1 unit from physical science cluster:
Physical Science, Integrated
Science, Chemistry I, Physics I
1 unit from Biology II, Chemistry II,
Environmental Science, Agriscience
II, Anatomy and Physiology
Social Studies – 3 units
American History
Civics
1 unit from World History or World
Geography
Health – ½ unit
Physical Education – 1 ½ units
Electives – 8 units
Education for Careers or Journey to
Careers
Shall include the minimum courses
required to complete a
Career/Technical Area of
Concentration
Total Units = 24
Note: Students who qualify may graduate with a Career Diploma instead of the Louisiana Core 4
or the Louisiana Basic Core. See you counselor for information.
Area of Concentration
•
http://www.louisianabelieves.com/docs/course-choice/20132014-area-of-concentration-guide-(effective-through-cohort2017).pdf?sfvrsn=4
• Complete 4 primary courses
•
Education for Careers I & II
• * course in AOC
• 2 additional courses
• Complete 2 related courses
•
Computer course
• 1 additional course
Course
Spelling of Name
Social Security #
Date of Birth
Credit Earned
Total Credits
GPA
Post Secondary Options
• Employment
• Apprenticeship
• Technical/Trade School
• 2 year college
• 4 year college
• Military
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcNSpKX8kVs
College Dropout Rate
2013
First to Second Year
Two-Year Colleges – 44.5%
Four-Year Colleges – 34.8%
Source: ACT
Louisiana 4 Year Public College
15.5%
Louisiana 2 Year Public College
8.8%
Useful Websites
• http://www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm
• http://www.laworks.net/Stars/default.aspx
• http://www.self-directed-search.com/
College Admission Tests
ACT
www.actstudent.org
• Avoid remedial/developmental classes
• English subscore of 18
• Math subscore of 19
• 17 composite required to qualify for TOPS Tech
• 20 composite required to qualify for TOPS Opportunity
• April 30 deadline w/o penalty
• June 30 deadline w/ loss of 1 semester of funding
SAT
http://sat.collegeboard.org/home
• 820 needed to qualify
for TOPS Tech
• 940 needed to qualify
for TOPS
Compass Test
• COMPASS is a computer-based test designed to test an
individuals knowledge of subject areas. There are two
subject areas: Math and English. This test is not timed.
Compass tests are administered Mon. - Thurs. by
appointment. The institution fee for this exam is $10 per
test and must be paid prior to scheduling an appointment.
A student may take each section two times.
• To help you prepare to take the compass exams, here is
the website to review the study guides:
http://www.act.org/compass/sample/index.html
• To schedule an appointment call (985) 549-3897
Paying for College
TOPS
http://www.osfa.la.gov/index.jsp
• TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) is a
program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who
attend either one of the
• Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities
• Louisiana Community and Technical College System Schools
• Louisiana approved Proprietary and Cosmetology Schools
• Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• The four award components of the TOPS Program are:
• TOPS Opportunity Award
• TOPS Performance Award
• TOPS Honors Award
• TOPS Tech Award
• Completion of TOPS Core Curriculum for award level
• Qualifying ACT/SAT scores for award level
• Opportunity Award - 20
• Performance Award - 23/additional $400 per year
• Honors Award - 27/additional $800 per year
• Tech Award 17
• Qualifying ACT/SAT scores for award level
• Minimum 2.5 GPA in TOPS Core for Opportunity and Tech
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in TOPS Core for Performance and Honors
http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/Core_Curriculum_14.pdf
http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPSTechCoreCurriculum.pdf
http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Tuition_Amounts.pdf
http://lela.org/documents/2012-2013%20Guide%20to%20College%20Cost.pdf
2.5
minimum
Financial Aid
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
It is necessary to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA)in order to be considered for most federal financial aid
programs. Many state financial aid programs and various scholarships
also require the submission of the FAFSA. The Department of
Education processes the FAFSA and notifies applicant with the Student
Aid Report (SAR).
• LOSFA - TOPS & FAFSA Presentation
• January
• LELA – assistance with completing FAFSA
• College Goal Sunday @ SLU
• March 1, 2015
• 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Scholarships
• PHS Counselors’ Web Page
• http://tangischools.org/Page/21351
• LELA
• http://asklela.org
As you begin your scholarship search, please keep in mind the following:
Sifting through the lists of scholarships will take time and may even prove
frustrating as you read through lists of criteria, but a few hours of work may pay
off with a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars (not necessarily a free
ride, but every amount counts)!
* It should not cost money to win money! Be wary of scholarship applications that
charge a fee.
* Be wary of companies that charge a fee for finding you grants and
scholarships…everyone can apply for grants and scholarships on their own.
* If you join a scholarship search service (one that required personal data)
be aware that you may be signing yourself up for lots of junk mail
* If you are told that you have received an award for which you never applied, be
wary!!
PHS Website
Lela
Decisions, Decisions
How to Pick the Best College for You
• Checklist for College Planning
• Admission Requirements
• Rankings
• Location
• Your Potential Major
• Costs and Financial Aid
• Faculty
http://www.lela.org/documents/2014-15_Senior_Checklist.pdf
Louisiana Public Universities
Grambling State University www.gram.edu/
Louisiana State University – Alexandria www.lsua.edu/
Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge www.lsu.edu/
Louisiana State University – Eunice www.lsue.edu/
Louisiana State University – Health Science Center New Orleans www.lsuhsc.edu
Louisiana State University – Health Science Center Shreveport
ww.sh.lsuhsc.edu/index.html
Louisiana State University – Shreveport www.lsus.edu/
Louisiana Tech University www.latech.edu/
McNeese State University www.mcneese.edu/
Nicholls State University www.nicholls.edu
Northwestern State University www.nsula.edu
Southeastern Louisiana University www.selu.edu
Southern University – Baton Rouge www.subr.edu/
Southern University – New Orleans www.suno.edu/
Southern University – Shreveport www.susla.edu/
University of New Orleans www.uno.edu/
University of Louisiana at Lafayette www.ull.edu/
University of Louisiana at Monroe www.ulm.edu/
Louisiana
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
(LAICU)
Centenary College www.centenary.edu/
Dillard University www.dillard.edu/
Louisiana College www.lacollege.edu/
Loyola University www.loyno.edu/
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary www.nobts.edu
Our Lady of Holy Cross College www.olhcc.edu
Our Lady of the Lake College www.ololcollege.edu/
St. Joseph Seminary College www.sjasc.edu
Tulane University www.tulane.edu
Xavier University www.xula.edu
Transfer Degree
http://www.latransferdegree.org/whatistdg.html
Louisiana
Community and Technical College System Community
Colleges
www.lctcs.edu
Baton Rouge Community College www.mybrcc.edu
Bossier Parish Community College www.bpcc.edu
Delgado Community College www.dcc.edu
Louisiana Delta Community College www.ladelta.edu
Nunez Community College www.nunez.edu
River Parishes Community College www.rpcc.edu
South Louisiana Community College www.southlouisiana.edu
Technical Community Colleges
www.ltc.edu
L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College www.fletcher.edu/
Sowela Technical Community College www.sowela.edu
Louisiana Technical College www.ltc.edu
Louisiana Proprietary Schools
American School of Business http://www.americanschoolofbusiness.com/
Aveda Institute http://www.avedainstitutes.com/
Ayers Career College http://www.ayers.edu
Career Technical College http://www.careertc.com/
Crescent City School of Gaming & Bartending
http://www.crescentschools.com/
Delta School of Business & Technology http://www.deltatech.edu/
Diesel Driving Academy http://dda.edu
Fortis College http://www.FortisCollege.edu
ITI Technical College http://iticollege.edu/
Louisiana Culinary Institute http://www.louisianaculinary.com
Remington College http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/
South Louisiana Beauty College http://www.slbc-houma.com/
Comparing Colleges
• http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/higher-
education/college-score-card
• http://whichcollege4u.org/
• http://www.aft.org/pdfs/highered/JUSTASK_042711.pdf
• http://www.nextstepu.com/tools/college-match/
• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
Ponchatoula High School
College & Career Fair
Thursday, 9/11
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
New Orleans National College Fair
Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center
Tuesday, September 30
9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Baton Rouge National College Fair
Baton Rouge River Center
Wednesday, October 1
9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Additional Info
• Request for a letter of recommendation should be
submitted at least one week in advance.
• Dual enrollment students – request transcripts
• SLU
• http://www.southeastern.edu/admin/rec_reg/transcript_request/
• Louisiana Technical College
• Do not pay for form completions or scholarship searches.
ACT Score = Composite, English, Math
TOPS GPA = 2.5, 3.0
Overall GPA
Deadlines – Priority, Application, Housing
Scholarships
FAFSA – after Jan 1
Register with NCAA Clearinghouse
http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp
Counselors
• A-D
Denise Latour
• E-K
Orlisa DePhillips
• L-Q
Katharine Meadors/Alice Salassi
• R-Z
Tommie Robertson