High School Information Meeting

1. High School Information Meeting St. Pius X School September 6, 2012 6pm

2. Talk to Your Child • Ask questions • What is he or she thinking? • What is influencing his or her thinking? • What are his or her concerns? • Share your thoughts and concerns with him or her

3. Before making any decisions… • Consider these influences • Co-ed or Single Gender • Friends • Location • Transportation • Courses • Interests • Activities • Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

4. Resources • School Websites • Application Guide • School Literature and Brochures • Directors of Admission, Main Office Personnel • Saint Pius X and our Alumni • High School Fairs • Open Houses • Office of Magnet Programs (Public Schools)

5. Shadow Days(October through December) • Schools of Interest – Contact the individual schools to schedule shadow dates • Current 8th grade students are allowed two shadow days (which are excused if the request form is completed).

6. Shadow Days(October through December) • Ensure your child is prepared for shadowing • Proper attire • Lunch or snack money • A book • Other materials as indicated by the school • Follow up with your child after the visit • Did your child feel comfortable? • How was the cafeteria food? • What did he or she do?

7. Open Houses(October through December) • School Leadership and Faculty • Academics and Fine Arts • Facilities • Resources • Clubs/Activities • Athletics

8. Applying to a Catholic High School

9. Standard Catholic High School Information Release Form • Parents or guardians complete the appropriate section: select three high schools, sign the release form, and submit it to Mrs. Ripley • Saint Pius X School will forward the records to the schools selected (official records will not be released to students/families)

10. Archdiocesan High School Placement Test (HSPT) • 8:30am • Register when you arrive • $30.00 Cash Fee • Extended Time Documentation (IEP or 504 Plan for extended time needs to be provided in advance) – for more information please call 1-800-5-CATHOLIC • Not necessary to take test at first choice school

11. HSPT Prep Class • Classes will be held Mondays beginning September 10th • Last class will be held Monday, November 26th • Check Mrs. Ruppert’s website for more details

12. Applications • Must fill out individual school applications • Fees • Requirements (Essays, Interviews, etc.) • No letters of recommendation

13. Request for Records If the student attends an Archdiocesan Catholic school in Baltimore, the Standard Archdiocesan Release Form (from SPX) is all that is needed from the parent.

14. Financial Considerations • Tuition Assistance • Scholarships (Guidelines differ from school to school) • Financial Aid (Deadlines and requirements) • Knott Scholarship – www.knottscholar.info

15. How do schools make their decisions? Everything is taken into consideration! • HSPT results • Grades (6th,7th, and/or 8th) • Comments from SPX • Standardized Test Scores • Interviews • Shadow Days • Attendance (Absences and Tardies) • Writing Samples

16. Timeline • October – December: Shadow Days • November – Catholic High School Release Forms • December – HSPT • Check with schools for individual application deadlines • February 15th: High School Decision Letters mailed • March 1st: Catholic High School Registration Deadline • March 25th (5:00pm) Knott Scholarship Application Deadline • On or about April 8th – Knott Scholarship notification

17. Registration Deadline • Register students at the high school to which they’ve been accepted and want to attend • DEADLINES VARY BY SCHOOL • REGISTRATION FEE (non-refundable)

18. Catholic Admissions Procedures QUESTIONS?

19. Process for Baltimore County Schools

20. Types of Public Schools • Locally Zoned School • High School Magnet Programs

21. Local Zoned School • The public school in your neighborhood/area your student would attend • For your child to attend, you need to register and show proof that you live the school’s zone/area • There are no entrance criteria

22. Magnet Schools • Magnet programs: theme-oriented programs that provide students with in-depth experiences in particular areas of interest • Students meeting admission criteria are placed into a pool of qualified applicants • When number of qualified applicants exceeds available seats, random lottery selection process is used • May apply to up to three magnet schools • May apply to one magnet program per school

23. Baltimore County Magnet Schools Information regarding the application process can be found on Baltimore County Public Schools website http://www.bcps.org/OFFICES/omp/high/apply.asp

24. Timeline • Magnet EXPO: Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza (Timonium) • Individual school open houses: October – November • High School Applications: available September 5th – November 30th • Application Deadline: Friday, November 30th • School-based assessments: January 2013 • Notification of High School Placement: early March

25. Information for Baltimore City Public Schools Information about registering for a Baltimore City school can be found on the Baltimore City Public Schools website: http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/domain/129 You can also visit the websites of individual schools for detailed information about their admissions procedures.

26. Public School Application Procedure QUESTIONS?

27. BEANS AND BREAD PAPERWORK Information Letter Student Letter St. Vincent de Paul Permission Slip St. Pius X Permission Slip