Senior Parent Meeting

Senior Parent Meeting August 14, 2019

Graduation Requirements • Meet state attendance requirements • Complete all course requirements • Jump Start/TOPS Tech students must earn necessary credentials • Pass all required End-of-Course (EOC)/LEAP 2025 Exams • Take the ACT and WorkKeysTests • Complete the FAFSA

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements TOPS Tech/Jump Start Credentials

HOW TO’s: How To Be An Honor Graduate • To be an honor graduate, students must achieve a 3.3 CHS weighted GPA and achieve an ACT composite score of 20 or higher. He/she will be awarded a “gold cord” to wear during graduation ceremonies and will be invited to attend a special Honors Banquet, along with his/her parents, at the end of the senior year. How To Be In The “Top 5” • In order to graduate as one of the “Top 5” in the class, student must be an honor graduate with at least a 3.3 CHS weighted GPA, achieve a composite score on the ACT of 20 or higher, and schedule 8 courses in each of the four years of high school. Top 5 graduates must also schedule an advanced English and Math their senior year.

ACT WHAT? • ACT is a national test that assesses students’ college-readiness. It is made up of four subtests: English, Math, Reading, and Science. HOW? • Register online at act.org COST? • $50.50 no writing sample or $67.00 with writing sample • 11th or 12th graders who qualify for free or reduced lunch can see their counselor to apply for two fee waivers. WHEN? • If you haven’t signed up to take the ACT on October 26th, sign up by September 20th. WHY? • Colleges determine acceptance and scholarships based on students’ GPA and ACT scores. The higher the score, the more money offered.

Louisiana Colleges Minimum Requirements Flagship – LSU Statewide – ULL, UNO, & LA Tech Regional – all others

College Readiness Benchmark Scores • English Composition: 18 on the ACT English Test • Algebra: 22 on the Mathematics Test • Social Science: 22 on the ACT Reading Test • Biology: 23 on the ACT Science Test

College Readiness Benchmark Scores • English Composition, social sciences courses, College Algebra, and Biology are the first credit-bearing courses most commonly taken by first-year college students. • Students who meet a Benchmark on the ACT have approximately a 50% chance of earning a B or better and approximately a 75% chance of earning a C or better in the corresponding college course or courses.

College Remedial Courses Facts about Remedial Courses: • Remedial Courses are classes that some students must take in order to build up math, reading, or English skills before they are allowed to take regular college courses. • Remedial courses do not count towards your degree. • You have to pay for the course, but you do not earn college credit. • Remedial courses are only offered at community colleges. How do I test out of remedial courses? • English ACT Subscore≥ 18; Math ACT Subscore ≥ 19

Louisiana TOPS Program

TOPS Scholarships • Eligibility Requirements: • A student who has resided in Louisiana for the last two years of high school • Have no criminal convictions • 2.5 minimum TOPS GPA on a 4.0 scale • ACT score of 20 or above (LA State Average) • 19 Core Curriculum units

TOPS Scholarships • Benefits: • Provides the amount equal to tuition at a Louisiana public institution OR • An amount equal to the average public tuition at a private institution (In 2019, the amount was $5718 per year.) • TOPS may be received for up to 8 semesters. • TOPS does not cover fees including: academic excellence fees, energy surcharges, technology fees, books, room & board, parking fees or lab fees

TOPS Tech Award • Eligibility Requirements: • A student who has resided in Louisiana for the last two years of high school • Have no criminal convictions • 2.5 minimum TOPS GPA on a 4.0 scale • ACT score of 17 or above ORWorkKeys Silver Certificate • 19 TOPS Opportunity Core Curriculum or TOPS Tech Curriculum

TOPS Tech Award • Benefits: • For students attending a Louisiana public institution which does not offer an academic degree at the baccalaureate level, the award shall pay an amount equal to tuition • For students attending a public or LAICU institution which offers a baccalaureate degree, the award shall be for an amount equal to the previous year average of tuition paid at the previous group of schools

Applying for TOPS • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • FAFSA is the form to fill out for all federal aid, including TOPS, Pell Grants, loans, etc. • Website: www.fafsa.gov • Must be filled out by July 1st for Fall entry into college • Will need parent financial information • Graduation Requirement! (Must be filled out no later than two weeks prior to graduation to be eligible to graduate.)

How do I know if I qualify for TOPS? • TOPS award letters are given out in mid-July by the Louisiana Office of Federal Student Aid (LOSFA). • Monitor your TOPS status by logging in to the Louisiana Award System. osfa.la.gov/awardsystem

How to Keep TOPS • Credit Hours, GPA, and FAFSA • Must maintain full time status each semester and earn a minimum of 24 credit hours during the Academic Year • Must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA for TOPS Opportunity and TOPS Tech • Must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA for TOPS Performance and TOPS Honors • Complete your FAFSA by July 1steach year

Applying for Scholarships • Deadlines as early as November 15th • Most public universities determine scholarships based on GPA and ACT • Most private universities require a separate scholarship application to be considered. This application includes an essay and a resume of activities and awards. (Begin your resume now!) • If you need a teacher or counselor recommendation, ask at least two weeks before the deadline.

College Scholarship Deadlines November 15th • Loyola University • McNeese University* December 1st • Northwestern State University • University of Southern Mississippi • Tulane University* • Dillard University* December 15th • Louisiana State University *Separate scholarship application

Why is my ACT Score Important for Scholarships? • The higher your ACT composite, the more scholarship money you qualify for. • Most college scholarship minimum criteria is an ACT composite score of 23 and a GPA of 3.0. Example: SLU’s Scholarships.

Scholarship Newsletter • Seniors • A scholarship newsletter is given out every other month with important information and deadlines. • Criteria for university scholarships are given in the scholarship newsletter. • National and local scholarships with criteria and deadlines are given. • Important senior information regarding ACT and FAFSA are included in the scholarship newsletters. • https://www.sbpsb.org/Page/12482

Scholarship Newsletter • Scholarship Websites • www.fastweb.com • www.StudentScholarships.org • www.scholarships.com • www.tuitionfundingsources.com • www.scholarshipguidance.com These websites also give you information about college majors and careers!

FAFSA Home Page

FAFSA • 6Easy Steps to Complete the FAFSA • Create a FSA ID for yourself: fsaid.ed.gov • Create a FSA ID for one parent: fsaid.ed.gov (If tax return is filed jointly, create a FSA ID for the parent listed first on the tax return.) • Get your parental tax information from 2018 • Complete FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov • FAFSA application opens October 1, 2019. • Complete the 2020-2021 application.

FAFSA • What do I need to complete the FAFSA? • Your Social Security Number • If not a US citizen, alien registration number or permanent residence card • Parent Social Security Number • Your email address/password • Parent email address/password • 2018 Parent Tax Forms • If your parents are not married, use the parent who makes less money regardless of whom you live with. • Untaxed Income: worker’s comp, child support, veterans benefits

Thank you ALL for coming tonight! we wish all of you a successful year! BREAKOUT SESSIONS: • JANUARY GRADUATES: MAIN THEATER • 3 YEAR GRADUATES: TECH THEATER

Senior Parent Meeting