Guiding Your 10th and 11th Graders

  • Each day, your 10th and/or 11th grader(s) are working with their teachers, counselors, and other school staff to make the most out of high school. This page will help you as you guide them during this important time. Use this page to sit down with your child and talk through their next steps.

     

    How Do I Support My Child's Goal of High School Graduation?

    Students must earn credits for all graduation requirements in order to graduate.

    The most important thing for students and parents/guardians to do is stay in communication with teachers. Teachers see your child every day and are the key to supporting their progress in courses. Call or email your child's teacher if you have a question about a course or assignment.

    Log into your student's Infinite Campus Portal with them and review their completed credits, current grades, and courses planned for 2nd semester. If you have any questions about their progress toward graduation, contact their assigned counselor.

     

    What Are My Child's Options After High School?

    Since elementary school, your child has been working with their teachers and counselors to learn about themselves, about education and careers available, and about how their skills and interests might fit together with a future career. Our goal in OPS is for every student to leave high school with a plan for furthering their education and opportunities. These plans can come in many different forms: 2-year college, 4-year college, United States military, union apprenticeships, Job Corps, or entering the workforce.

    Sit down with your child and review the assessments and assignments they have completed in their SchooLinks account. They can show you the careers and colleges they have marked as "favorites" as a way of starting conversations about their interests and needs. If there are assessments available that they haven't taken, encourage them to do so. Help them talk with family members and family friends about their career paths and what they wish they had done.

    If your child has a certain career in mind, they can look it up to find out what preparation is required. If they do not have a career in mind, they can look into some general courses or work with their school counselor to find out more about their interests.

    In 10th grade, students begin taking courses in their academy and pathway. In their academy/pathway courses, they will learn about careers and opportunities aligned with their chosen topic. Internships, career fairs, and other opportunities will be provided as part of College & Career Academies and Pathways experience.

    Students who plan to go to work directly after high school are encouraged to find internships or programs that offer on-the-job training and have room for growth. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is an excellent resource to help parents and guardians understand the changing landscape of careers: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm

    If your child is interested in investing time in education after high school, they may be concerned about the cost. Federal aid is available for students whose families qualify. You may be surprised at how much support is available for your child! Make sure to complete the FAFSA to find out!

  • Student Checklist To Prepare For College/Career

    To-Do: All Students

    • Work hard to earn good grades in all classes. Attend daily and be on time for class.
    • Be a positive role model for younger students, and strive for mature interactions with peers and teachers.
    • Participate fully in all academy/pathway opportunities.
    • Go to career information events to get a more detailed look at career options.
    • Research majors that might be a good fit with your interests and goals based on your results from the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search. Or, log into your SchooLinks account and review the materials and resources there.
    • Find out what sort of post-high school education your chosen career(s) will require. Do you need to look into apprenticeships? 2-year programs? 4-year universities?
    • Participate in school and community activities.
    • Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss colleges and their requirements.
    • Explore the College Scorecard for information about test scores of students accepted at the colleges you want to attend. Work to achieve those scores or higher.
    • Plan to use your summer wisely: work, volunteer, or take a summer class (Metro CC has free classes for high school students!)
    • Learn the differences between grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.

    To-Do: 11th Grade Spring Semester

    To-Do: Summer Before 12th Grade

    • Create a StudentAid.gov account. You’ll need a StudentAid.gov account to access your federal student aid information and electronically sign your federal student aid documents.
    • Visit colleges or programs you are interested in.
    • Learn about internship and job opportunities through school or community organizations.
    • Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.
    • Contact colleges or browse their websites to get information and applications for admission. Research financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.
    • Decide whether you are going to apply for admission under a particular college’s early decision, early action, or regular decision program.
    • Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to get an estimate of what federal student aid you may be eligible to receive.
    • To supplement any federal student aid you may receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow so you have less to pay back later.
Expand All

  • How can my child get ready for their education after high school?

  • What is standardized testing, and should my child worry about it?

  • Can my child start applying for scholarships now?

  • How can I support my child's social and emotional health?