Counselor's Page

The ACT is a standardized test used to measure a student's college & career readiness. It is divided into four sections: English, math, reading, and science. Each section is scored individually on a scale of 1-36, and a Composite (overall) score is determined by averaging the four scores. Many colleges take the ACT Composite Score into consideration when making admissions decisions.  

Frequently Asked ACT Questions

How much does ACT cost?

You can find the most current ACT fees here.  

How do I sign up to take the ACT?  

Signup for the ACT is done online.  Students can register on their own by going here. 

If you need help signing up for the ACT or need a waiver, fill out this Google Form.  

What can I do to prepare for the ACT?  

There are a lot of different test prep materials.  ACT has a free personalized practice for the ACT test called ACT Academy.  ACT Academy™ is a free online learning tool and test practice program designed to help you get the best score possible on the ACT test, and well on your way to college and career success.  Get more information here.  

The A+ Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools.  There are also local colleges and universities that provide an A+ scholarship.  

To be eligible for assistance, you must meet the following requirements:  

1. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. Enter into a written agreement with your high school prior to graduation.
3. Attend a designated A+ high school for 2 years prior to graduation.
4. Graduate from an A+ designated high school with an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
5. Have at least a 95% attendance record overall for grades 9-12.
6. Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring, of which up to 25% may include job shadowing prior to graduation. 
7. Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol while in grades 9-12.
8. Have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam or a higher level DESE approved end-of-course exam in the field of mathematics.

For more information about the A+ Scholarship Program, you can visit the website. 

For additional questions, you can contact our A+ Coordinator Dr. Usha Saha.  

She can be reached at USaha@center,k12.mo.us or by phone at 816-349-3354.  

FAFSA is short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s used by schools to put together your federal student aid package. This package can include grants for college, work-study, federal student loans, and even state and school financial aid.  We encourage all seniors to complete and submit! Below are links and resources to assist you in the process.  The 2020-2021 FAFSA opened on October 1, 2019.

Important FAFSA Dates  

Federal financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so know your deadlines and apply as early as possible to maximize your financial aid. 

• October 1, 2019:  This is the first day you can file your FAFSA for the 2020-2021 academic year.  
• February 3, 2020:  This is the Missouri deadline for priority consideration.  Applications are accepted through April 1, 2020. 
• June 30, 2020:  This is the federal deadline for filing the 2020-21 FAFSA.  

Colleges can set their own FAFSA deadlines.  Be sure to check the FAFSA deadline for each college you’re applying to.

Six Steps to Completing the FAFSA

Create a Federal Student Aid ID (or FSA ID).  

• An FSA ID is a username and password that gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature.  You can create your FSA ID here.  Both the student and parent each need thier own FSA ID.  
• Once applicants have created an FSA ID, they can start the FAFSA here, save their progress and log in and out as they wish. 

Gather Financial Documents

• The FAFSA determines how much financial assistance students qualify for, which is why applicants must submit documentation about their family’s financial status. Before starting the FAFSA, applicants should be sure to gather all of the forms and documents they’ll need. 
• To complete the FAFSA, students will need:
  • Records of any untaxed income
  • Bank statements and records of any investments
  • Federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned (Thanks to the newly-updated IRS data retrieval tool, applicants may be able to automatically transfer their tax return information instead.)
  • An Alien Registration number (For non-U.S. citizens)
  • A Social Security number

Start the FAFSA for the desired year.  

• Make sure you are completing the FAFSA for the correct year.  You are applying for the school year you are seeking financial aid, which is 2020-2021.  
• Students attending college from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 can file the 2020 - 2021 FAFSA between October 1st, 2019 and June 30th, 2021 using their 2018 tax information. 

Follow the directions carefully.  

• The FAFSA itself is broken into seven sections: student demographics, school selection, dependency status, parent demographics, financial information, sign and submit, and confirmation.

Complete each of these sections carefully, making sure that the information is accurate:

• Student demographics: The student’s name, social security number, date of birth, address, email, gender, telephone number, driver’s license number (if the student has a driver’s license), marital status, citizenship status, education history and interest in work-study.
• School selection: The name and location of the high school the student attended and the colleges they’re interested in applying to.
• Dependency status: Whether the student has children or dependents and the size of their household.
• Parent demographics: Parents’ marital status; parents’ names, social security numbers and birthdays; parents’ email address and household information, such as who lives with them. (Note: If the student is an independent, they will not need to complete this section.)
• Financial information: Applicants can either use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or input information from their W-2s manually.
• Sign and submit: Applicant’s signature.
• Confirmation: Applications will receive a confirmation when their FAFSA has been completed.

Submit

• Once all necessary information has been entered, press “submit.”
• The Department of Education says that online FAFSA applications are typically processed within three to five days, and paper applications are typically processed within seven to 10 days.
• After your application is processed, students should receive a copy of their Student Aid Report, which includes their Expected Family Contribution and determines their eligibility for Pell Grants. An applicant’s aid report will be shared with the colleges they listed on their FAFSA application.

Graduation Requirements

ALL Seniors must take the ACT, ASVAB or COMPASS test to be eligible for graduation

In addition, 2020 Graduates must also have successfully completed the following End of Course Exams:

Students have the opportunity to attend Herndon Career Center or Summit Technology Academy their junior and senior year.  To find out more information about the programs offered, click below.  

The Herndon Center offers programs that blend classroom instruction with hands-on learning experiences.  They will prepare you for the rest of your education journey while exposing you to your career path.  You’ll be able to earn high school credit, and most of the programs offer college credit or preparation for industry certifications.   

Herndon Career Center (HCC)

Click here for the 2020-2021 Herndon Application

Summit Technology Academy (STA) is a shared campus of junior and senior students who come together for a half-day program as an extension of their home high school.  STA is a career-focused academy designed to prepare students for tomorrow’s professional workforce. It is located at the Missouri Innovation Campus building, which is a cutting edge facility that looks and feels like today’s top collaborative workplaces. STA shares this facility with the University of Central Missouri–Lee’s Summit, creating a professional collegiate atmosphere for students from 30 public and private high schools sent from 18 school districts.  Students who are driven, focused, and passionate about discovering their future career field will thrive at STA.

Summit Technology Academy (STA)

2020-2021 STA Application is open.  don't wait, apply today!

• ACT web page  
• Local Colleges' Financial Aid Information (pdf)
• College Board

Welcome to Parchment Exchange.

We're offering this service to make ordering transcripts easier for you. It's also more efficient for your school, and will deliver your transcripts to the colleges you choose in the format they prefer.

Transcripts may only be ordered online. Please do not call or visit the school to request a transcript.

*** Please check website often for Scholarship Materials, Counseling Updates and Internet Resources.***

collection of scholarship opportunities

Scholarship Opportunities for Minorities

African American Scholarship Opportunities

Latino/Undocumented Students Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship Opportunities for Women

Under Construction

Please check back soon!