Transition to High School

As your child begins high school, there are important things for you to consider as a family.

1. Class selection

   1. Classes should provide a good challenge to your child; when class selection begins in about 2 months, discuss as a family what classes your child is taking - be part of the decision making process together.

   2. The School Counselor can help advise. The typical classes for CCA students are on the CCA High School Class page.

   3. Watch the video below with Mrs. Baldwin, explaining the many different options here at CCA.

2. Classes offered at CCA:

   1. What is AP? - AP classes offer students the opportunity to gain college credit for classes, while fulfilling high school degree requirements. Students must pass an exam at the end of the year. All AP classes are administered through the college board.

   2. What is dual enrollment? Students may earn high school and college credit at the same time; students pay a smaller fee than if the class is taken at college (usually around $240-250 for 3 credit hours, compared to $1200-1800 for 3 credit hours at college)

3. Preparing for college

   1. What should I be doing right now about college?

      1. Be mindful of college when making course selections.

      2. Get involved in community service! Colleges want to see students involved in things outside of school; colleges especially look for commitment to a few things, long-term, rather than a few hours here and a few hours there

      3. If a student is thinking about playing sports in college, it is important in 9th grade to sign up with NCAA. This will give exposure to coaches throughout high school.

      4. Get good grades! Time spent studying and working hard now can mean scholarship money in a few years, as well as the difference between getting accepted to a college of choice or not accepted.

      5. Keep track of community service (place and time), awards earned (sports, music, academic), and any jobs. Students will need this information for both college applications and scholarship applications.

      6. Start saving for college. Begin talking about how to pay for college.

      7. If possible, shadow various careers to determine interest. Find friends who work in an area the student is interested in and allow the student to shadow for a day.

4. How do we advise students and help prepare them for following God’s plan outside of HS? At CCA, we offer:

   1. Career testing in 10th and 11th grade

   2. One-on-one advising for career placement and college - 11th and 12th grade

   3. Course advising

   4. Colleges visits on-campus so students can interact with representatives

   5. Communication with parents of college timelines

   6. Spiritual Gifts assessment and Senior reflection on Who am I? What is God’s purpose for me?

   7. SAT/ACT preparation helps; PSAT is taken in 10th grade to help students know how they might score on SAT. Students should take the SAT and/or ACT the spring of the Junior year (either at CCA or recommendations elsewhere)

   8. Senior year, college essay done in English Class

   9. Senior year - reminders of deadlines, assisting with applications

   10. Celebrating our Seniors and their decisions as they transition to the next chapter!