Student Timeline and Planner

9^th Grade:

• Work out an Education & Career Action Plan (ECAP) with your counselor by exploring and learning more about your interests and skills. 
• Explore and research different careers that interest you. See the career center specialist or your counselor for help.
• Track and keep records of your report cards, honors and awards, school and community service activities (start creating a resume).
• Start thinking about your career interest to determine the appropriate pathway for your post-secondary goals and high school course choices
• Find out about the requirements for National Honor Society or any other organization/club you want to be involved in.

10^th Grade:

• Review and update your ECAP with your counselor. Discuss Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes.
• Sophomore year is the best year to apply for two-year programs like our Peoria MET academy or most West-MEC programs.
• Consider taking the PSAT test in October; this test is written for juniors but can be taken in 10^th grade as a practice.
• Continue to track your awards, club activities, community service and update your resume. Your involvement in both school and community activities can help earn college scholarships. 
• Consider attending enrichment programs in the summer or camps for specialized areas – art, music, science, etc.
• Learn how to search for scholarships and financial aid.
• If interested in college talk with your parents about how you will pay for that. 

11^th Grade:

• Review and update your ECAP with your counselor. Make sure you understand the necessary credits and requirements for graduation and college admission.
• Discuss testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT, ASVAB) with your counselor; obtain a schedule for this testing.
  • PSAT - October of Junior year -this is a practice ACT test and is the first step to earning National Merit recognition. Sign-ups are typically at the high school.
  • ACT and SAT tests should be taken Junior Year. (See the Testing page on this website for more information.)
  • ASVAB - career interest inventory and military will use to help place you in a career during enlistment.  See the Career Center Specialist if interested in this.  Most schools offer at least one per year at the school.
• Continue your search for scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
• Attend College Fairs.
• Explore and research colleges.  Consider scheduling campus tours in the spring and narrowing your list of schools down.
• If you are taking Advanced Placement classes, register for the May exams.  Fall and yearlong classes must register in the Fall, spring classes must register once the course begins.  Your teacher and counselor can give you more information regarding this. 
• Talk to your teachers about letters of recommendation. You may need these in the fall when you apply for college admission and scholarships.
• Continue to update your resume and keep record of awards, activities, community service, and employment.
• Write a rough draft of the essay you could need for your college applications or scholarships.
• Decide if you are going to apply under a particular college's early decision or early action programs. This requires you to submit your applications early, typically between October and December of your senior year. You will usually receive the college's decision about your early admission before January 1. If you choose to apply early, you should do so for your first-choice college or university. Many early decision programs are legally binding -- if they accept you, then you are required to attend that college.

12^th Grade:

• August: Review and update your post-secondary plans in your ECAP with your counselor. Make sure you have the necessary credits and requirements for graduation and college admission.
• August: Check the SAT & ACT dates and register to take a fall test if necessary. 
• All year: Investigate and apply for scholarships. Check online resources and those in your Career Center. Talk to your counselor to get advice and handouts.
• September/October: Attend college fairs, finalize your list of colleges, and check for the application deadline. Priority application to many universities is October 1.
• September: Request a FSA ID (both student and parent) for completing the FAFSA.  Create an FSA ID
• October: Complete your FAFSA: FAFSA Application - opens October 1st, complete as soon as possible (check out the Financial Aid page on this site for more information).
• September/October: Be sure to get your official transcript sent to the colleges to which you have applied. Order electronically: Request a Transcript  or contact the Records Specialist at your high school for a mailed copy.
• October/November: If your college requires recommendation forms from teachers and/or your counselor, submit the request to the teacher or counselor at least two weeks in advance to the due date so they have time to complete it before the deadline.
• October/November: Explore early decision or early action deadlines.
• October/November: Caps and gowns (and other graduation supplies) are usually ordered in the fall, but can be ordered later in the school year.
• October and March: If you are taking Advanced Placement classes, register for the May exams.  Fall and yearlong classes must register in the Fall, spring classes must register once the course begins.  Your teacher and counselor can give you more information regarding this.
• November/December: If you plan to live on campus, check the deadlines for applying for housing and the deposit required.
• December – April: Keep a close watch for college acceptance letters and scholarship offers. Check for any deadlines.
• January/February: For those interested in the military this is  good time to take the ASVAB and consider which branch of military you are interested in.  Many schools offer the ASVAB at the school in the spring.  See the Career Center Specialist for more information.
• March: For those interested in attending community college or technical/trade schools this is a good month to complete applications and any placemen testing requirements necessary.
• April/May: Check the senior calendar at your high school so that you are informed about the Awards and Scholarship events, senior checkout, graduation practice, and the graduation ceremony.

Helpful Websites and Resources for Academic Planning

• Peoria Unified Course Description Guide - Everything you need to know about PUSD course offerings.
• CTE Website - Peoria Unified offers many opportunities in Career and Technical Education!
• eCampus Website - This is PUSD's online/virtual platform for high school students.  Students should see their counselor if interested. 
• MET Academy - This is our STEM program.  Most programs are two years in length (with a few exceptions) and may include internships, dual enrollment opportunity, and honors credit. Visit the site for more information! 
• West-MEC - This is a public school district specializing in career and technical education programs. West-MEC classes are held on West-MEC campuses across the west valley, students must provide their own transportation. Students must apply to these programs.  It is best to start looking at these in the Fall of sophomore year (many programs take two years to complete).  Applications typically open near October 1st. Students can earn industry credentials and/or college credits in these programs.

Career Research Websites:

Peoria District supports College and Career Readiness for every student by partnering with MajorClarity, a digital academic and career planning platform designed to help students discover future careers. Every 7-12 grade student can access a personalized profile by logging in on the Student Portal Resource Page.  Utilize this site for academic planning and career exploration.  Beginning in the 21-22 school year, all students 8-12 will have an electronic Education Career Action Plan stored on this platform. 

These are outside resources that PUSD does not endorse or sponsor.

• Pipeline AZ
• My College Options
• Career One Stop
• O-Net Online
• ASU Me3