The Ninth Grade College Guidance course is a pass/fail course. To pass this course, students must complete all assignments by the designated due dates.
As part of the college-readiness curriculum, ninth graders will:
- Explore the implications of attending a college prep school
- Develop a growth mindset and an understanding of relevant brain processes
- Analyze demographic disparities in college readiness and graduation rates
- Identify and explain terminology related to colleges, universities, and the application process
- Familiarize themselves with a college or university campus through visits
- To Improve college acceptance and financial aid opportunities through test practice and score interpretation.
The Tenth Grade College Guidance course is a pass/fail course. To pass this course, students must complete all assignments by the designated due dates.
As part of the college-readiness curriculum, tenth graders will:
- Reflect on their personal gifts and interests
- Explore various career paths
- Strengthen their academic profiles
- Calculate their GPAs
- Begin crafting a student resume to be used for collegiate applications
- Develop self-advocacy skills
- Build an essay portfolio through structured self-reflection
- Familiarize themselves with a college or university campus through visits
- Improve college acceptance and financial aid opportunities through test practice and score interpretation.
The Eleventh Grade College Guidance course is a pass/fail course. To pass this course, students must complete all assignments by the designated due dates.
They will submit a complete target college list (Cristo Rey Network standard: All Seniors are required to apply to at least 10, 4-year colleges/universities)
As part of the college-readiness curriculum, eleventh graders will:
- Explore college and university options and appropriate institutional matches,
- Develop a targeted list of appropriate colleges and universities based on their academic profile, strengths and interests,
- Familiarize themselves with the financial aid process, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study,
- Build financial literacy,
- Explain the importance of engagement in activities on campus and understanding/seeking out various resources for academic, financial, emotional, social, and wellness success,
- Cultivate communication skills for interacting with colleges and universities,
- Schedule and maximize the value of college and university visits,
- Refine Student Resume to be used for collegiate applications,
- Participate in a college guidance family meeting to plan for future college applications (Spring Semester)
- Request 2 teacher recommendation letters (Junior Year Teachers) that best represent their skills as well as personal and academic growth, and
- Participate in Saturday SAT Prep course (Spring Semester)
- Take the SAT test for college/university admissions/course placement (May)
The Twelfth Grade College Seminar course is a pass/fail course. To pass this course, students must complete all assignments by the designated due dates.
Seniors will implement the college readiness skills acquired in ninth through eleventh grade to complete the college and financial aid process in collaboration with their parents and with support from the College Guidance team.
Senior expectations:
- Attend Senior College Kick Off (August)
- Attend Senior Family College Guidance Meeting (Summer/Fal)
- Submit at least 10, 4-year college/university applications (Cristo Rey Network standard)
- Take 2 SAT Tests
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Complete the CSS Profile (if required by private colleges only)
- Attend 2 College RepVisits at CRD
- Required to apply to a least 5 scholarships
- Attend regular meetings with your College Counselor
- Attend Final Senior Family College Decision Meeting (Spring)
As part of the college-readiness curriculum, Seniors will:
- Manage their target college list in Naviance for further research and throughout the college application process,
- Meet with their college guidance counselor individually to plan for their college applications,
- Maintain robust profiles in Naviance, The Common Application, and ApplyTexas,
- Present themselves as a competitive college applicant,
- Create a College Essay/Personal Statement and other required essays for colleges and scholarships,
- Request 2 Junior Teacher recommendation letters,
- Identify and develop soft skills that will increase their college readiness
Test Preparation
Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT. Cristo Rey Dallas provides SAT Prep courses beginning the Spring semester of Junior year. Students are expected to actively participate and set improvement goals for their SAT scores during their SAT Prep course. Students are required to take the SAT twice by the fall of their Senior year, including at least once in Junior year.