Guidance

Guidance Updates

Hello Spartans!

Below you will find important information from the Guidance Office regarding scheduling, graduation progress, SAT, ACT, college admissions, etc. If you are an upperclassman, this is a great spot to stay up-to-date on all guidance information!

Schedule Change Requests

Any request to change or drop a class, depending upon space available, must be done prior to 2:45 pm on June 7th, 2023. A high school counselor is on duty part-time during the summer. Call the Guidance Office at (260)431-2204 to request assistance.

 

Students and parents are advised that all requests for schedule changes for the 2023-2024 school year must be made by 2:45 pm on June 7th, 2023. Requests for schedule changes made before this deadline will be honored if space is still available in the course.

 

After June 7th, 2023, changes in a student’s schedule may be made only for the following reasons:

•        The school’s need to balance class sizes

•        Errors made by the school in developing the schedule

•        Failure of a course required for graduation

•        Request to add a course required for college (with documentation from the college)

•        Failure of a course required for entrance into post-secondary education

•        A student has failed with a teacher previously in a course, and he/she is assigned to the same teacher for

exactly the same course (if different teacher is available)

•        A program (Anthis, Co-op, Internship, or Higher Education) change

•        Adding a class to continue the sequence of a year-long course

•        Failure of a prerequisite class, i.e., anything that would prevent a student from going on to a requisite

course as published in this book

•        Requests to change levels should be addressed before the current school year ends to include teacher

recommendations and input.

•        A request to change the level of an academic course during the summer may be difficult. In some cases

these requests may be deferred to the first month of school to obtain high school teacher input.

•        Adding a seventh course to replace study hall (must be requested by end of the previous semester)

•        After the school year begins, a student with seven credited classes MAY request to drop one course and

add a study hall. This will be honored; however, a NEW class cannot be added – only a study hall. Students

may drop a class for a study hall until the last day of the 1st or 3rd grading period if space is available.

•        Advanced leveling students will have the ability to level up or down with the same course. Examples: AP

US History <--> US History or Honors Biology <--> Biology. Advanced leveling must be completed by the

20th academic day of the semester. (Advanced leveling is not guaranteed and will depend on class size and

availability).

•        Leveling (World Language and Math)-students will have the ability to level back to the previous completed

course within the student’s math/world language sequence. Leveling must be completed prior to the end

of the first grading period. (Leveling is not guaranteed and will depend on class size and availability).

College Fiar Flyer - 2023 Updated.pdf

2023 College and Apprenticeship Fair

Homestead will be hosting its annual College and Apprenticeship Fair on Monday, March 6th, 2023 from 6-7:30 pm. This free event is open to all Homestead students and will include 80+ participants including four-year universities, two-year colleges, vocational schools, career representatives, and armed services! 

To pre-register for this event, click here.

SAT & ACT Testing

SACS Foundation Award_2023 (1).pdf

SACS Foundation Scholarship Opportunity 

The SACS Foundation Award is for students who would like to pursue enrichment outside of the school environment. Scholarships up to $500 could be awarded to students for their activity (summer camps, etc.). The application submission deadline is March 13. It requires a short essay of 300 words. 

Any Spartan who is looking for scholarships, this is one opportunity that you don't want to miss! Submit before March 13 to be considered for the award.

Junior Information

Juniors, click the drop-down groups below for specific information regarding available scholarships and SAT information. Please be sure you are checking your email and Class of 2024 canvas page frequently so you can stay up-to-date on everything as you make preparations for college & senior year! 

Available Scholarships

Coolidge Scholarship

Horatio Alger State Scholarship

Due: 3/15/23. Application available here

The Horatio Alger Association will award scholarships ranging from $10,000-$25,000 to students in every state! Each scholarship will be awarded to high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives.

Eligibility:

Senior Information

Seniors, click the drop-down groups below for specific information regarding college applications and senior meetings. REMINDER: 2023 Graduation Day is a week later than usual. It will be on Sunday June 11th, 2023. Graduation will be in the arena, NOT in the Convention Center where we have been the past few years.  Please mark this date in your calendar and plan your summer festivities accordingly!

Financial Aid

FAFSA Information for Seniors and Parents

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is available for the Class of 2023. The FAFSA must be completed by April 15th to qualify for Indiana state aid, but it is recommended to file as soon as possible. Many schools have deadlines as early as January 1, and some types of aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. You will need: 

Go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

State Financial Aid

The Commission for Higher Education is dedicated to making college affordable through need-based financial aid awards and to allow choice by granting awards to those attending public, independent, and proprietary colleges. 

Award notices contain information about a student's eligibility for Indiana student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the approved tuition and regularly assessed fees at the college the student will be attending, the type of high school diploma the student earned, and the number of credit hours the student has successfully completed. 

Indiana ranks fifth in the nation in the need-based grant aid per undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment, making higher education more accessible and attainable for more Hoosiers. Indiana has two primary grant programs: The Frank O'Bannon Grant, Indiana's primary need-based financial aid program, and the 21st Century Scholarship, Indiana's early promise program where students sign up in middle school. 

Please visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education website at https://www.in.gov/che/ for more information about Indiana's grant programs. 

Diploma Type Verification

Scholartrack is used to facilitate the reporting of eligible Academic or Technical Honors graduates to the Commission. Graduates not reported through ScholarTrack may not receive the full financial aid award for which they are eligible. To report this information in ScholarTrack you need to create your own account. If you have not already created your own ScholarTrack Account, please visit https://scholartrack.che.in.gov/Login?ReturnUrl=%2f#/RegistrationAccountType 

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

As we enter the season of college applications and scholarships, remember that many of these applications will require letters of recommendation from school personnel. Make sure you give some time and consideration to those you choose to write your letters of recommendation. Please consider the following when requesting a letter of recommendation:

College Application Information & FAQS

What does “Test Optional” Mean?

Colleges that are test optional de-emphasize the importance of the SAT and ACT by making the tests an unnecessary component of the admission process. So if you took the SAT or ACT but didn't score as highly as you'd hoped you would, you can apply to test-optional colleges in order to avoid having to send in any unsatisfactory test scores that could potentially hurt your application. https://blog.prepscholar.com/test-optional-colleges-list

Important information regarding college applications: 

Students must allow counselors/teachers at least two weeks to complete applications and letters of recommendations. Recommendation sheet (purple sheet)  for students to complete and provide to recommenders.

Here are instructions for sending your transcripts through Parchment, it is important you list Homestead High School (Fort Wayne, IN) as your school.  Please make sure to enter your year of graduation correctly.

Although SAT and ACT scores are on your transcript, most colleges want them sent directly through College Board or ACT.  Students have to make this request; counselors cannot request official scores to be sent.

If applying to colleges using the Common Application, make sure you have email addresses for your recommenders and counselor.  You do NOT have to have your portion of the application completed in order to submit the application to your counselor.  Common Application allows students and counselors to work simultaneously.

Although colleges might offer multiple ways to submit information and transcripts, you should only use one. Priority should be given to Common Application and Parchment.  

FAQs for College Applications

Common App FAQs

What is my class size (Class of 2023)?

590

Do you report class rank?

No (unless you have officially released your rank)

Do you have weighted grades?

Yes

Are you on a block schedule?

No

Have you ever attended another college or university?

Check with individual colleges as it varies by college. For example, Indiana University reports wanting students to mark “No” if it is dual credit or higher education. Whereas, Purdue University prefers students to mark “Yes”.

What is your school graduation date?

June 11th, 2023 at 4 pm

How should I send my high school transcript?

Electronically-Parchment unless applying with Common Application

What is Early Decision?

Early Decision is an early admission policy indicating that the college you apply to Early Decision is your top choice. Applying Early Decision is binding, meaning if accepted you are expected to attend that particular college. Students and parents should read the policy entirely before applying Early Decision to understand the terms of the commitment.

Scholarships

Scholarships

A few featured scholarships with upcoming deadlines for Homestead High School students are listed below. For a full list of all available scholarships and their detailed eligibility criteria, please visit the Homestead High School General Scholarships page on our website.


 

 

 

Students are encouraged to review scholarship opportunities for incoming freshmen at their colleges and universities of interest. More information about these opportunities at some of our most commonly attended post-secondary institutions can be found on our Collegiate Scholarships page: http://homestead.sacs.k12.in.us/guidance/scholarships/collegiate_scholarship_listing.


Additionally, students can peruse national scholarship search sites, such as the College Board Scholarship Search or Fastweb to widen their scholarship search.

 

Again, for a full list of scholarships and eligibility information, please visit the Homestead High School General Scholarships page on our website.

Cap & Gown orders

Class of 2023 seniors and families,

It is time to order your graduation Cap and Gown!   Orders may be placed online starting today for Caps and Gowns, Official Graduation announcements, and Senior jewelry.    In order to participate in the Graduation Ceremony, students will need a Cap and Gown.  Please see the details below:  


Cap and gown pickup will occur on Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, April 27 during all lunch mods.