College & Career Readiness News
September 2023
Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!
My name is Jackie Hidalgo, and I am the College & Career Readiness Advisor and serve both Hightower and Crawford High Schools.
I encourage students and parents to reach out to me early and not wait until the last semester of high school. Your future takes time and planning, so use your resouces wisely and often.
SchooLinks
Students use FBISD 1Link & Clever to log into SchooLinks.
Parents/Guardians may also create a SchooLinks account and attach to their child's account. This is a great way to keep on top of student's career interests, college searches, scholarship information, etc. and definitely a great way to initiate those conversations about the future around the dinner table.
Parents can follow the directions in this flyer to onboard as a guardian.
College, Career, and Military Ready
College Ready
A student who is "college ready" is prepared for any postsecondary goal without the need for college remediation. The student meets the minimum TSI scores through the SAT, ACT, or TSIA2.
Career Ready
A student who is "career ready" has completed or is working toward an industry certificate. The student has met TSI benchmark through the SAT, ACT, or TSIA2.
Military Ready
A student who is "military ready" has successfully completed the ASVAB exam and met the required score for a specific branch of the military, enlisted in any military branch, including the Texas National Guard, and completed and submitted enlistment documentation to the recruiter and high school.
Students can meet CCMR Indicators through various measures:
- SAT/ACT/TSIA scores
- Completing College Prep classes
- Completing Dual Credit Courses
- Completing OnRamps course
- Earning a 3 or higher on an AP exam
- Earning an industry-based certification
- Earning a level 1- or level-2 certificate
- Earning an Associates degree
- Military enlistment (DD-4 form required)
TSI Testing
To learn more about the TSIA, you can visit this website.
Student Informational Brochure
To take the TSIA, students are required to complete the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) first. The PAA includes an overview of how the TSIA works, as well as required practice questions for both the ELA and Math portions of the assessment. Take the PAA here.
Students will be able to take the TSIA on campus designated dates for free, but can also schedule a TSIA at the college they will attend (not free). If a student must retest, he or she is required to take part in some type of intervention or test prep and may not test without showing proof of completion. It is highly encouraged that students participate in some type of test prep prior to taking the TSIA for the first time so that retesting may not be required.
Registering and Preparing for TSIA
- Hightower HS students may register for TSI here once they complete and obtain their PAA Certificate. Fall testing dates are available in September. Register for Hightower TSIA
- Crawford HS students will be able to register once the TSI Testing schedule is set. Testing will likely be in the Spring only, in preparation for dual credit courses during Summer and Fall 2024. Stay tuned for updates.
Contact Ms. Hidalgo in the CCR Center on campus for Test Prep information.
SAT / ACT / PSAT Testing
Students have the option of taking several different tests to not only meet CCMR, but to gain admission to college.
Start preparing for the Digital PSAT with Bluebook: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt
11th graders will take digital SAT during the school day in March. More resources are available at the Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy.
SAT and ACT exams are recommended during the Spring of 11th grade, and Fall of 12th grade, if retesting is desired or required. See National testing dates for SAT and ACT below.
Fee Waivers for SAT/ACT Exams
Hightower HS 11th and 12th grade students can request a fee waiver for SAT or ACT here.
Fee Waivers for College Applications
If you took the SAT during school day in the Spring of your Junior year AND you were approved for the School Lunch program at the time, your fee waiver benefits have been uploaded to College Board. You will find your benefits on your MySAT page and may still need to accept your benefits before you can access your application fee waiver form.
See Ms. Hidalgo in the CCR Center for help with Application Waivers.
Texas Colleges that Offer FREE tuition based on Family Income
How do YOU compare for Texas Automatic Admission to College??
Where does your academic record fit into these colleges?
Scholarships
While it may be harder to find those that can be submitted while you're in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, searching for scholarships in the lower grades also allows you get a lot of the legwork now.
If you find a scholarship that you qualify for (other than your current grade level), put it on a Scholarship list you create for yourself. Note the scholarship name, website, and approximate date the application opens and/or is due. Many scholarships come around each year, so once you find one that you are or will be qualified for, keep track of it so you can apply when the time is right.
All students and parents have access to the Scholarship Match in SchooLinks. Check it often for scholarship opportunities for you!
Other good search engines are:
Click here for a great scholarship tracking template from Mapping Your Future.
Jackie Hidalgo, College & Career Readiness Advisor
Phone @ Hightower - 281-634-3728
Phone @ Crawford - 281-327-6855
CCMR logo - https://desotohs.desotoisd.org/intellectual/guidance/college___career_readiness_resources
Get on the Path to CCR - https://www.collierschools.com/Page/3031
Scholarships - https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/trio-ets/13869/79289
Free tuition - https://westsidenewsny.com/news/2022-02-13/ur-school-of-nursing-medical-center-extend-free-tuition-program-for-employees/
Colleges with Auto Admit - https://supertutortv.com/college/automatic-entry-colleges-that-guarantee-admission-if-you-qualify/
Fee waiver - https://www.thebluediamondgallery.com/handwriting/f/fee-waiver.html
Schoolinks - https://www.schoolinks.com/