February/March 2024 Senior Parent Letter
We wanted to keep you informed and remind you of upcoming events and dates.
January 30 February scholarship emailed to parents
February 1 5:00-7:00 in SHS library--FAFSA night -help for parents from FAFSA experts, answer questions and complete the FAFSA that evening. It is not required to attend. Let your counselor know if you are planning to attend. See documents needed to complete the FAFSA at the end of the letter.
February 5 Mandatory TN promise meeting at school at 1:00. For students only.
February 8 3:30-6:30 pm parent/teacher conference
February 19 No school-President’s Day
February 29 March scholarship list should be available on the counselor's door and emailed to parents.
March 4 Report cards (subject to change)
March 8 Deadline for April 13 ACT test. Register at www.act.org
March 12 Roster posted of Honors & Distinction on large bulletin board in counseling office
March 26 3:30-6:30 parent/teacher conference
May 23 at 4:30 pm Graduation at LeConte Convention Center
More details of senior activities/events will be coming in the next parent letters.
Reminders
Make sure your teenager has applied to the schools of interest and hopefully has received
information about their status. If not, contact the school and check on the status. If you have not
received any information, they may be waiting on your FAFSA to be filed.
Continue working on the FAFSA to make sure it is complete. If you have specific questions
about the FAFSA or the SAR(student Aid Report, received a week or two after filing the
FAFSA) you can call 1-800-433-3243
The state of Tennessee recognizes and promotes students who have met one of the following
criteria below as being a Ready Graduate.
Score a 21 or higher composite on the ACT (or SAT equivalent) or
Complete four (4) Early Post-Secondary Opportunities (EPSOs) (AP, DE, SDC classes) or
Complete two (2) EPSOs + earn an industry certification (in an approved CTE program of
study) or
Complete two (2) EPSOs + score 31 or above on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
(ASVAB).
All students who get the ready graduate recognition will get to wear a red cord at graduation. If
you do not have one of the 4 options, the one last chance to get it, is to register (act.org) for
the last ACT on March 8 for the ACT test given on April 13 th and get a 21 composite. See your
counselor if you have questions. We will have a list of the Ready Graduates March 18.
Compare offers from the schools which you have applied. Most schools should start sending your
award letter in April. The letter lets you know what their school can offer you. Most schools want you
to accept or decline each of the awards by May 1 st . This will allow the schools to make offers to other
students.
Make sure your teenager is in credit recovery during or after school to recoup the credit. If credit
recovery begins too late in the semester, there is not enough time to get the credit. Sometime in mid
March we should have the students and their progress in credit recovery available. You can check with
their school counselor to check their progress.
Please make copies of the scholarship offers your teenager receives and give to your counselor by
April 25th. If the copies are not received by April 25 th they will not be recognized for awards night.
The state will recognize two levels of graduation- Distinction and Honors
It will be noted on your diploma and transcript. You can receive both of the recognitions.
A roster of all seniors will be posted by March 12 th to review distinction and honors. You will look over the
roster and initial by your name that you agree with the honors/distinction noted. If you think you have either
one and it is not noted, you are responsible to tell your counselor to review it.
Graduate with Distinction:
Students will be recognized as graduating with “distinction” by attaining a B average and completing at least
one of the following:
Earn 12 or more semester hours of transcripted postsecondary credit (this includes dual enrollment)-4
classes i.e (Comp I, II, Speech, Psychology, etc.)
Participate in at least one of the Governor’s Schools
Participate in one of the state’s All State musical organizations
Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist
Attain a score of 31 or higher composite score on the ACT
Earn a nationally recognized industry certification (OSHA, any certifications you received from
Northview classes)
Graduate with Honors
Students who score at or above all of the subject area benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT
will graduate with honors. Last ACT to count before graduation is April of senior year. The benchmark scores
can come from different test administrations not just from one administration. See chart below.
ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks
Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject area tests that represent the level of achievement required for
students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in
corresponding credit-bearing first year college courses. These college courses include English Composition,
College Algebra, an introductory social science course, and Biology.
The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are:
College Course ACT Subject-Area test ACT Benchmark
English Composition
College Algebra
Social Science
Biology
English
Mathematics
Reading
Science
18
22
22
23
You all have done a great job of getting scholarship applications, asking questions about the schools, completing
the FAFSA, keeping track of their academic requirements and encouraging (maybe nagging) your teenager to
work on various areas. We have wonderful students and appreciate your encouragement and support during this
process.
Cheryl Troutman Candi Buffington Bethany Schultz
Last names A-H Last names I-N Last names O-Z
For those completing a 2024–25 FAFSA form, you need the following information:
Your Social Security Number
Your A-Number (if you're not a U.S. citizen)
Federal income tax returns, records of child support received; and your current balance of cash, savings, and
checking accounts (Note: You must provide consent and approval to disclose your federal tax information to
be eligible for federal student aid.)
Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable), net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
An FSA ID (account username and password) to log in to StudentAid.gov and start the FAFSA form
electronically
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