- Combs High School
- College and Career Prep
-
College and Career Guidance
Quarterly classroom guidance activities with students are developed around the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards with a focus on meaningful discussion involving college and career readiness. All classroom guidance activities touch upon academic, career or personal/social development.
Education & Career Action Plan (ECAP)
College and Career Readiness
Guidance, Experiences, AssessmentsEducation and Career Action Planning (ECAP) drives all aspects of a student's day at Combs High School. An individual ECAP for a student involves 4 components: academic planning, post-secondary education goal setting, career path goal setting and documentation of extra-curricular activities.
Students benefit from advisement on deciding which courses taken in high school best prepare them for their paths after graduation. Activities at school and conversations with trusted adults help to shape the post-secondary education path a student chooses. Career goals can be developed through experiences within electives and core content classes. Students are encouraged to participate in the extra-curricular activities that best fit their personal interests and talents. Combs High School wants to see leaders both in the classroom and the community.
The CHS counseling staff provides quarterly classroom guidance to all students on topics directly tied to education and career action planning. We strive to support the development of college and career-ready students.
CHS supports MajorClarity as a student's online portfolio to capture their ECAP. CHS counselors collect a projected ECAP from juniors in the spring to help guide conversations during the senior year.
-
12th Grade ECAP Timeline
August:
- Apply online or mail applications to colleges; check with colleges for specific deadlines.
- Review the transcript and complete a graduation credit check to make sure you are on track to graduate.
- Register and prepare to take or retake the ACT/SAT.
- Discuss your post-secondary school costs with your parents.
- Complete the college application checklist.
September:
- Participate in classroom guidance which focuses on academic, personal and career/college readiness.
- Visit colleges of interest. Attend college fairs.
- Listen to information regarding the ACT & SAT, and the importance of these tests.
- Visit Career Center often; be aware of college visits and scholarship opportunities.
- Sign up for ASVAB for more information on your career interests.
October:
- Begin assembling documents for financial aid applications. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to get a pin number that will serve as your electronic signature on FAFSA. Use FAFSA forecaster to estimate your potential financial aid/grants.
- Talk to your parents about your classes and your future. Monitor your grades through Jupiter.
- Sign up to participate in the Fall Tour of Colleges.
- Continue to seek tutoring, as needed, from your teachers and after school.
- Attend the College & Career Days on campus to get valuable information on post-high school plans and get help applying for college.
November:
- Using MajorClarity, explore career information and continue the ECAP post-high school plan.
- Use Career Center and CHS guidance newsletter for information on scholarships.
December:
- Wrap up the first semester by turning in any missing work.
- Prepare for 1st semester finals.
January:
- File FAFSA with the help of your parents/guardians.
- Attend Financial Night at CHS if you need help completing this.
- Apply to colleges you are interested in if you have not done so already.
- Continue talking to your parents about your post-high school budget.
- Send your mid-year transcript to the colleges you have applied to.
February:
- Receive credit check and confirm graduation plan.
- Continue looking for sources of financial aid and scholarships.
March:
- Continue to stay organized and maintain your cumulative goal GPA.
- Take Asset placement test if you are planning to attend community college.
- Respond to colleges if you are offered admission.
- Participate in Senior Transition Guidance provided in your classroom.
April:
- Attend a job fair, if you are going directly into the work place.
- Bring in the notification of any award offered to you to the counselors so that you may be recognized in the Senior Awards Program.
May:
- Take Advanced Placement exams.
- Participate in awards night, and other graduation related activities.
-
11th Grade ECAP Timeline
August:
- Continue using a planner for organizing assignments, projects and tests.
- Maintain a balance between academics and extra-curricular activities.
- Review the transcript and complete a graduation credit check to make sure you are on track to graduate.
- Be proactive and seek tutoring or assistance from teachers.
- Look for volunteer opportunities in areas that interest you.
September:
- Participate in classroom guidance which focuses on the world of work, including completing a job application and the interview process.
- Be aware of announcements for the ASVAB and PSAT assessments.
- Listen to information regarding ACT & SAT, and the importance of these tests.
- Visit Career Center often; be aware of college visits and scholarship opportunities.
- Sign up for the ASVAB, for more information on your career interests.
October:
- Top 10% of the junior class will have the opportunity to take the PSAT for National Merit Scholarship consideration.
- Talk to your parents about your classes and your future. Monitor your grades through Jupiter.
- Sign up to participate in the Fall Tour of Colleges.
- Continue to seek tutoring, as needed, from your teachers and after school.
- Attend the College & Career Days on campus to get valuable information on post-high school plans and get help applying for college.
November:
- Using MajorClarity, explore career information and complete the ECAP post-high school plan.
- Begin searching for scholarships; use Career Center and CHS guidance newsletter for information on scholarships.
- Attend the Arizona Campaign for College Application on campus to get valuable information on post-high school plans and get help applying for college.
December:
- Wrap up the first semester by turning in any missing work.
- Prepare for 1st semester finals.
January:
- Begin to think about colleges you are interested in if you have not done so already.
- Start talking to your parents about your post-high school budget. Attend Financial Aid night.
- Participate in program planning; review the course catalog with your parents and decide on the classes you would like to pursue in 12th grade.
February:
- Receive a credit check and comprehend significance.
- Make arrangements to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring or summer of your junior year. Information is available in the Career Center or from your counselor. There is also information available on the CHS website under Academics. You can also go to www.collegeboard.org for more information.
- Make an appointment with your counselor if you have any registration questions.
- Complete your course registration and turn it in with your parent/guardian's signature.
- Continue to seek tutoring or assistance from your teachers.
March:
- Work with counselors on course request entry. Make sure the pre-requisites have been met.
- Continue to stay organized and maintain your goal cumulative GPA.
April:
- Participate in transition guidance activities provided by the counselors.
May:
- Take Advanced Placement exams.
- Access summer school information for credit retrieval, if needed.
-
10th Grade ECAP Timeline
August:
- Continue using your planner for recording your assignments, projects and tests.
- Establish a schedule which demonstrates a balance between academics and extra-curricular activities.
- Be proactive and seek tutoring or assistance from teachers.
- Review the transcript and complete a graduation credit check to make sure you are on track to graduate.
- Look for volunteer opportunities in areas that interest you.
September:
- Participate in classroom guidance which focuses on your personal strengths and being aware of personal growth areas.
- Participation in and understanding of the benefits of extra-curricular activities and community service.
- Introduction to Career Center, MajorClarity discussion for post-secondary career search.
- Introduction to the post-secondary vocabulary and requirements (ACT, SAT, ASVAB, etc.).
- Go over the PSAT practice book, review and take the practice test.
October:
- Take PSAT (do your best).
- Monitor your grades.
- Talk to your parents about your classes and your future. Monitor your grades through Jupiter.
- Continue to seek tutoring, as needed, from your teachers and after school.
November:
- Using AZCIS, explore career information and complete your ECAP post-high school plan.
- Continue to monitor your homework, test scores, and grades through Jupiter.
December:
- Wrap up the first semester by turning in any missing work.
- Prepare for 1st semester finals.
January:
- Clean out folders and notebooks from 1st semester, get organized.
- Participate in program planning; review the course catalog with your parents and decide on the classes you would like to pursue in 11th grade.
February:
- Receive a credit check and comprehend the significance.
- Make an appointment with your counselor for any registration questions.
- Complete your course registration and turn it in with your parent/guardian's signature.
- Continue to seek tutoring or assistance from your teachers.
March:
- Work with counselors on course request entry. Make sure the pre-requisites have been met.
- Continue to stay organized and maintain your goal cumulative GPA.
April:
- Continue to seek tutoring, as needed.
- Participate in transition guidance activities provided by the counselors.
- Student athletes interested in playing Division I or II college sports should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Notify your counselor of registration. (The Eligibility center prefers a transcript uploaded at the end of 6 semesters and then one at the completion of high school).
May:
- Access summer school information for credit retrieval, if needed.
- If you know you need to make up credits or wish to accelerate credits, make an appointment with your counselor for discussion of options.
-
9th Grade ECAP Timeline
August:
- Start using a school planner for organizational skills.
- Establish a schedule which demonstrates a balance between academics and extra-curricular activities.
- Be proactive and seek tutoring or assistance from teachers.
September:
- Participate in classroom guidance which includes 4 year plan –academic requirements for graduation, what G.P.A. is and how it can impact them.
- Complete a Career Interest survey in class, discussion regarding personal strengths, and growth areas.
- Participation in and understanding of the benefits of extra-curricular activities and community service.
- Introduction to Career Center and MajorClarity discussion for post-secondary career search.
- Introduction to the post-secondary vocabulary and requirements (ACT, SAT, ASVAB, etc.).
October:
- Monitor your grades.
- Talk to your parents about your classes and your future. Monitor your grades through Jupiter.
- Continue to seek tutoring, as needed, from your teachers and after school.
November:
- Using MajorClarity, explore career information and continue your ECAP post-high school plan.
- Continue to monitor your homework, test scores, and grades through Jupiter.
December:
- Wrap up the first semester by turning in any missing work.
- Prepare for 1st semester finals.
January:
- Clean out folders and notebooks from 1st semester, get organized.
- Participate in program planning; review the course catalog with your parents and decide on the classes you would like to pursue in 10th grade.
February:
- Receive the first credit check and comprehend the significance.
- Make an appointment with your counselor for any registration questions.
- Complete your course registration and turn it in with your parent/guardian's signature.
- Work with counselors on course request entry. Make sure the pre-requisites have been met.
- Continue to seek tutoring or assistance from your teachers.
March:
- Continue to stay organized and maintain your goal cumulative GPA.
April:
- Continue to seek tutoring, as needed.
- Participate in transition guidance activities provided by the counselors.
May:
- Access summer school information for credit retrieval, if needed.
- If you know you need to make up credits or wish to accelerate credits, make an appointment with your counselor for discussion of options.
-
Volunteer Opportunities
Please contact your counselor if you are interested in any of the opportunities listed below.Service Learning Opportunities
JO Combs USD Elementary Schools:
Date: Throughout the year (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday)
Time: 3 pm - 5:30 pm daily
Event Contact: Kelly Guerra
What: Student volunteers needed to work with elementary children enrolled in the Combs Kidz program.San Tan Valley Farmer's Market:
Date: 2nd Saturday of each month (excluding September and October)
Where: Combs High School student parking lotTime: 5 am - 12 pm
Event Contact: santanvalleyfarmersmarket.com
What: Help distribute produce for Produce on Wheels Without WasteHoofbeats with Hearts:What: Equine assisted activities and therapies for children and adults.Where: 43491 N Coyote Rd, San Tan Valley, 85140Event Contact: 602-421-7718Arizona Schools Virtual Tours
Check the different virtual tours for different universities home to Arizona!
-
Arizona State University
-
Grand Canyon University
-
Northern Arizona University
-
University of Arizona
-
Career Ready Testing
ASVAB is offered to all seniors this year in November.
Seniors are given the opportunity to take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). This assessment gives a good picture to students of their strengths in regards to identifying career clusters. Students do not have to be military bound to take the assessment. If students are military bound, the results are used by recruiters and students to help identify the best path for students to serve.
Students in Career and Technical Education courses both at CHS and EVIT will take industry-specific assessments that qualify them for employment.
College Ready Testing
The following information is a guideline on when you should take specific tests:
Grade 10 Testing
The PSAT is being offered to all Sophomores in October.
In grade ten, students will take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) as a practice test for the SAT in their junior year. PSAT scores will not be used by any college for admission purposes. Students can use PSAT information to log into My College QuickStart; See correct answers and explanations, see which AP courses you may be ready for now and search for colleges and career tracks.
Students also take the placement test for Central Arizona College. These scores give students an idea of strengths and growth areas as they begin to prepare for post-secondary education.
Grade 11 Testing
Students in eleventh grade who scored in the 90 percentile should take the PSAT in October of their junior year. Scores on this test enter students into the National Merit Scholarship program. These scores have validity in predicting the scores on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), and taking the test is good practice for taking college entrance examinations. In the spring of the eleventh grade, students should also take the SAT and/or ACT. Generally, colleges use the highest total score on any one test. Therefore, students can take it as many times as they wish, provided they have the time and resources to do so.
Grade 12 Testing
All college-bound students should take the ACT and/or SAT if they have not taken them in their junior year. They take them as many times as they feel they need to in order to achieve the highest possible scores. Students should make sure to schedule their test dates in time to meet the application deadlines of the colleges where they are applying.
AP Exams
All students who take an AP course at CHS are eligible to take the AP Exam for that course. AP Exams are scheduled during the month of May.
Testing Waivers
Both SAT and ACT offer waivers for students that are on the Free/Reduced Lunch Program. If you are signing up for a SAT or ACT exam and you qualify, please come to your counselor’s office to get a waiver. Please remember that we do need to verify your participation in the program, so make sure your parents have filed the proper forms with the district prior to visiting your counselor.
SAT/ACT Facts
Commonly asked questions about the SAT and ACT.
-
SAT vs ACT
More information: http://www.princetonreview.com/sat-act.aspx
-
Colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT. So which should you take?
It's all about the numbers. Some students end up scoring substantially higher on the SAT; others do better on the ACT. In lieu of a crystal ball, we created The Princeton Review Assessment (PRA) designed to help you determine which test is better fit with your abilities.
To help you zero in on the right exam, here are seven key differences:
The SAT has a stronger emphasis on vocabulary.
If you're an ardent wordsmith, you'll love the SAT. If words aren't your thing, you may do better on the ACT.
The SAT is broken up into more sections.
On the ACT, you tackle each content area (English, Math, Reading and Science) in one big chunk, with the optional writing test at the end. On the SAT, the content areas (Critical Reading, Math and Writing) are broken up into 10 sections, with the required essay at the beginning. You do a little math, a little writing, a little critical reading, a little more math, etc. When choosing between the SAT and ACT, ask yourself if moving back and forth between content areas confuse you or keep you energized?
ACT questions tend to be more straightforward.
ACT questions are often easier to understand on a first read. On the SAT, you may need to spend time figuring out what you're being asked before you can start solving the problem. For example, here are sample questions from the SAT essay and the ACT writing test (their name for the essay):
SAT: What is your view of the claim that something unsuccessful can still have some value?
ACT: In your view, should high schools become more tolerant of cheating?
The ACT has a Science section, while the SAT does not.
You don't need to know anything about amoebas or chemical reactions for the ACT Science section. It is meant to test your reading and reasoning skills based upon a given set of facts. But if you're a true science-phobe, the SAT might be a better fit.
The ACT tests more advanced math concepts.
In addition to basic arithmetic, algebra I and II, and geometry, the ACT tests your knowledge of trigonometry, too. That said, the ACT Math section is not necessarily harder, since many students find the questions to be more straightforward than those on the SAT.
The ACT Writing Test is optional on test day, but required by many schools.
The 25-minute SAT essay is required and is factored into your writing score. The 30-minute ACT writing test is optional. If you choose to take it, it is not included in your composite score — schools will see it listed separately. Many colleges require the writing section of the ACT, so be sure to check with the schools where you are applying before opting out.
The ACT is more of a "big picture" exam.
-
ACT Scores
(Based on ACT-tested high school graduates from 2012, 2013, and 2014 and reported on score reports during 2014–2015)
Find one of your subject area scores or composite score in the far left column. Read across to the column for that subject area to locate the national rank for that score.
For example, the national rank for a composite score of 22 is 62. This means 62 percent of recent high school graduates who took the ACT achieved a composite score of 22 or below.
-
SAT Scores
SAT scores are reported on a scale from 200-800, with additional sub-scores reported for the essay (ranging from 2-12) and for multiple-choice writing questions (on a 20-80 scale). Your scores tell college admissions staff how you did compared with other students who took the test. For example, if you scored close to the mean or average — about 500 on SAT critical reading and 500 on SAT mathematics — admissions staff would know that you scored as well as about half of the students who took the test nationally.
-
Non-College Bound Students
It is suggested that all students take the SAT and ACT even if they do not plan to attend college immediately after graduation. They may be going into the military, on a mission or into the workforce. If they want to go to college in the future, they will need the scores. Generally, students will score better while in school than several months or years after graduation.