TH
11
GRADE….
What to know in order to have a successful
year.

The ELHS Guidance Department is here to help! We provide…


Academic assistance, career/college planning, brief counseling
sessions for issues that are getting in the way of students’ success,
credit recovery solutions, applying for accommodations for SAT and
AP exams; if you can think of it, we can help with it!
Guidance has partnerships with organizations outside of school
that we can refer students to which include…

Holiday assistance, mental health agencies, pregnancy centers,
clothes closet (located at ELHS), Kiwanis Club (for students in need
of shoes), and social services.
THE BASICS…HOW TO ACCESS
RESOURCES TO BE SUCCESSFUL

English- 4 credits (English I, II, III, IV)

Math- 4 credits (Math I, II, III, and a higher level math)

Science- 3 credits (Earth Environmental, Biology, a physical science)

Social Studies- 4 credits (World History, Civics, American History I and II)

Health and PE- 1 credit

2 units of a World Language if 4 year college bound

Required elective credits- 2 (Arts education or CTE or World Languages)

Other required electives- 10

Total credits needed to graduate- 28

**These are minimum graduation requirements, students are encouraged to
select elective and academic courses that align with their future plans.**
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

If the course is a graduation requirement, it must be taken again
either in 5th period, summer school, Success 101, or APEX.

It is not recommended to sit through the class again; a repeated
class takes the place of an elective credit needed to graduate.

Failing 2 or more classes per year puts students at the risk of not
graduating on time.

Talk to a teacher, counselor, or administrator if you are falling
behind in your classes, we can help!
WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL A COURSE?

If you feel behind in a class or don’t get what is being taught, let
your teacher or counselor know.

Teachers stay after school and want to help. Schedule a time
with your teacher for before or after school tutoring, retaking tests
or quizzes, or to ask questions about material you don’t
understand.

Don’t wait to ask for help until the end of the 9 weeks, by that
time it may be too late.

Check PowerSchool daily for updated grades and missing
assignments. Students log in through their rapid identity log in,
parents can log in from home via the parent portal.
HOW TO GET ACADEMIC HELP

The redesigned SAT will launch in March 2016. Students who took the
PSAT got a preview of what the new SAT will be like.

The redesigned SAT does not take points off for wrong answers; if you
don’t know the answer, take an educated guess.

The essay portion will be optional- contact the colleges where you
plan to apply to find out if they require the essay.

Scoring will change, instead of being based on 2400 points (800English, 800- Math, 800- Essay), the redesigned SAT will be based on
1600 points (800-English, 800- Math, and the essay will be scored
separately).

Get FREE personalized SAT study materials online by visiting
https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

Learn more about the redesigned SAT by visiting
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat?navid=gh-nsat
SAT

All juniors will take the ACT on March 1, 2016

This is a FREE college entrance exam. Make sure to have your
scores sent to colleges you plan to apply at.

Take advantage of FREE study materials by visiting
http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/

Subjects tested are English, Math, Science, Reading, and Writing

Test scores range from 1-36

Talk with a counselor about your ACT- PLAN scores (from 10th
grade), this report will give you an idea of what areas to study in
order to prepare for the ACT.
ACT

Testing accommodations are available for PSAT, SAT, ACT, and
AP Exams.

If you have a 504 plan or an IEP and would like to apply for
accommodations, see a counselor who will initiate the process.

It can take 6-8 weeks for the College Board to approve
accommodation requests, make sure to notify a counselor
EARLY.

We will automatically apply for accommodations for the
upcoming ACT, you will be given an application form that needs
to be signed by a parent/guardian.
TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

Tuition free dual enrollment program for juniors and seniors (students
are required to pay for books, supplies, and activity fee).

Students may take college level courses through Gaston online or in
the Afternoon College format.

Afternoon College is a hybrid format- 2 days/week students will
attend class face to face during 4th period, the other days students
will work on their courses online from home or at ELHS.

Two pathways to choose from: College Transfer Pathway and
Career/Technical Education Pathway

College Transfer Pathway has minimum GPA and test score
requirements.

College transfer courses will be accepted at 4 year public colleges
in North Carolina.

www.gaston.edu/career-college-promise/
CAREER AND COLLEGE PROMISE

Fall/Winter

Take the PSAT- this is the year that scores count toward National Merit
Scholars recognition.

Attend college fairs. The LCS college fair has passed, but the Charlotte
National College Fair will be held on March 20, 2016 at the Charlotte
Convention Center. Make a note to attend the LCS college fair as a senior.

If interested in playing Division I or II college sports, make sure to sign up with
NCAA Clearinghouse.

Meet with Mrs. Lackey to discuss future plans and to make sure you are on
the right track.

Prepare for the ACT (mandatory for all juniors) and the SAT. There are
multitudes of study materials on the internet and in print form. See Mrs.
Lackey for assistance.

Juniors are allowed to miss one day of school to tour a college. In order for the
college visit to be excused, you must complete a college day form in guidance
and bring proof that you visited.
COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

Spring/Summer

Pick a rigorous schedule for senior year with the assistance of Mrs.
Lackey. Colleges want to see applicants that challenge themselves
all through high school.

Continue building the high school resume; this is the document
teachers/other adults will use when they write letters of
recommendation. It needs to be as thorough as possible. See Mrs.
Lackey for assistance.

Start researching colleges you would like to tour and set up
appointments for summer vacation.

Prepare a list of which teachers/adults you are planning to ask to
write letters of recommendation. Continue adding to the high
school resume.
COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE

Sign up for challenging courses that relate to the career pathway
or military career of your choosing.

See Mrs. Lackey about Gaston College CTE classes. Many of
these courses will provide a pathway to certifications in select
career areas. They are also transferrable to other community
colleges.

Search for internship/job shadowing opportunities. These will
provide insight to the career field you are interested in. See Mrs.
Smith for information.
WORKFORCE/MILITARY PLANNING

Research 2 year community colleges and technical schools. They
provide hands on, and in some cases on the job training for students
who are interested in furthering their educations, but not at a 4 year
college.

Attend career and college fairs, you may find that the career you
want requires training/education beyond high school.

Speak with a military recruiter for the branch you are interested in
joining.

Start researching the ASVAB, which is the career inventory and
aptitude assessment potential recruits take. Most students take the
ASVAB as seniors, but it can be taken any time in high school. ELHS is
a testing site in December.
WORKFORCE/MILITARY PLANNING

Visit colleges and complete applications- make sure to check
deadlines and have all materials submitted by the due date. Seniors
are allowed 2 college visits.

Ask for letters of recommendation from adults who knows you well
and will say positive things about you. Make sure to give them at
least 2 weeks notice and provide them with an information sheet of
what you are involved in (the high school resume works well).

Take the SAT or ACT again.

Meet with Mrs. Matthews for assistance with college and scholarship
essays and to make sure your senior courses are rigorous.

Attend the LCS college fair in September.

Attend the LCS Financial Aid workshop in December.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE BEGINNING
OF SENIOR YEAR

PSAT results will be back in December/January. Meet with Mrs.
Lackey to discuss your results. Taking the PSAT as a junior qualifies
students to be considered for National Merit awards. If you did
not take the PSAT and would like to be considered, see a
counselor.

ASVAB exam December 10- sign up with Mrs. Smith

January 31, 2016- Summer Ventures Applications due

March 2016- all Juniors take the ACT

March 20, 2016- National College Fair at the Charlotte
Convention Center
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER