Academic Planning
Build a Strong Foundation for What's Next
The choices you make throughout high school can help prepare you for college, career training, an apprenticeship, the military, employment, or whatever path you choose after graduation.
Academic planning is about more than earning good grades or completing graduation requirements. It's about choosing courses and experiences with purpose, developing strong academic habits, exploring your interests, and making sure you're prepared for the opportunities you may want to pursue after high school.
You don't need to have your entire future figured out. Start with what you know today, keep your options open, and adjust your plan as your interests and goals develop.
Start With a Four-Year Plan
A high school four-year plan helps you look beyond your next semester and see how your courses and experiences work together.
Your plan should account for graduation requirements while also considering your career interests, future education or training requirements, electives, advanced coursework, college-credit opportunities, and experiences outside the classroom.
Review your plan with your school counselor every year and make adjustments as your goals change.
Build Your High School Four-Year Plan →
Choose Courses With Purpose
Your schedule should do more than satisfy graduation requirements. The courses you choose can help you explore interests, build skills, prepare for future education and training, and discover new possibilities.
When selecting courses, consider:
- Your school's graduation requirements
- Your career interests and goals
- Admission or preparation requirements for programs you're considering
- Opportunities to challenge yourself appropriately
- Career and technical education courses
- Electives that allow you to explore new interests
- Advanced and college-level coursework
The goal isn't to build the most difficult schedule possible. It's to build a schedule that challenges you appropriately and supports where you want to go.
Consider College Credit in High School
Depending on your school, you may have opportunities to earn college credit through dual or concurrent enrollment, Advanced Placement courses, career academies, or other programs.
College-level coursework can help you explore subjects, experience higher academic expectations, and potentially make progress toward a future credential or degree.
More college credit isn't automatically better, however. Consider how each opportunity fits into your academic, career, and postsecondary plans.
Explore College Credit in High School →
Understand Your Academic Progress
Grades provide one measure of how you're progressing academically, and your grade point average—or GPA—can play a role in college admission, scholarships, academic eligibility, and other opportunities.
Because schools may calculate GPA differently, understand how your school determines yours and keep track of your progress throughout high school.
If your grades aren't where you'd like them to be, focus on what you can do next. Strong study habits, organization, communication with teachers, and using available academic resources can all help you improve.
Explore Ways to Improve Your Grades →
Understand the Role of Standardized Tests
ACT, SAT, placement tests, and other assessments may play different roles depending on the college, program, scholarship, or pathway you're considering.
Testing policies can vary, so research the requirements for the opportunities that interest you. Even when a college doesn't require a test score for general admission, a score may still be useful or required for scholarships, placement, specific academic programs, or other purposes.
Understanding your options early gives you time to decide whether testing makes sense for your plans and to prepare if you choose to test.
Explore Standardized Testing →
Build Skills Beyond the Classroom
Academic preparation isn't limited to coursework.
Jobs, volunteering, athletics, clubs, leadership, community activities, career experiences, and other forms of involvement can help you develop skills such as communication, teamwork, responsibility, organization, leadership, and time management.
Choose activities that genuinely interest you rather than trying to participate in everything. Meaningful involvement gives you opportunities to learn about yourself, build skills, explore careers, and contribute to your school or community.
Explore Ways to Get Involved →
Keep Your Plans Connected
Your academic plan should connect to the bigger picture.
As you learn more about your interests and possible careers, ask yourself:
What careers interest me?
Explore career possibilities and the skills and education they require.
What education or training will I need?
Research apprenticeships, certificates, two-year degrees, four-year degrees, and other pathways.
Am I preparing for those opportunities?
Use your high school coursework and experiences to build the foundation you'll need.
Your plans may change—and that's expected. Continue exploring, reviewing your progress, and making informed decisions along the way.
Explore Education & Training Options →
Work With Your School Counselor
You don't have to make these decisions alone. Your school counselor can help you understand graduation requirements, build your four-year plan, select courses, explore college-credit opportunities, understand testing options, and connect your academic choices to your future goals.
Make academic planning an ongoing conversation throughout high school.
