12420 Ainsworth Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98444 | 253-298-4700

College & Career Readiness

Post-Secondary Planning:
Enrolled // Enlisted // Employed

The Washington High School Counselors work with all students to provide guidance and support so that they have access to post-secondary option(s) of their choice, including enrollment in college or technical school, enlistment in a military branch, and/or gainful employment in the work force. 

At WHS, we offer Career & Technical Education (CTE) classes in the following areas: business education, diversified occupations, family and consumer sciences, technology science, technology math, health occupations, horticulture, agriculture, construction related carpentry, applied math, environmental science, video broadcasting, network engineering, manufacturing engineering, turf landscaping, aviation ground school. For more information, please see our Course Catalog.

All students will also create a Portfolio over the course of their time at Washington High School. The Portfolio will include the following: samples of your work (your best work and work that shows how you have improved); grades, test results, four-year plan, transcripts and credit check; your self-assessments about how you’re doing and how you can improve academically; career goals and post-secondary plans; a typed High School and Beyond Plan; a financial plan for your future; a record of your jobs, internships, or volunteer service; and honors or awards you’ve received.  The content of the Portfolio is created in Patriots Partnership, the advisory class that was developed to assist students in the development of a high school and beyond plan while at WHS. 

The Portfolio will be used in Student Led Conferences (SLCs) and Senior Presentations.  SLCs are held twice a year - once in the Fall and once in the Spring.  In 2012, the district approved a one-quarter (.25) yearly credit for advisory upon successful completion of Patriots Partnership/Advisory and will be awarded either P (pass) or F (fail). To earn the credit and a pass, students must complete both of the SLCs along with the tasks assigned to each grade level in the Portfolio. Senior Presentations occur during the spring of your senior year and are made to a panel of community members.

Enrolled

Washington State Two Year Colleges & Technical SchoolsThere are 34 community and technical colleges in the state of Washington, including many here in the greater Tacoma area. http://sbctc.edu/our-colleges/default.aspx

Four Year Colleges within the State of Washington Students who are interested in attending public or private baccalaureate college or university must meet the minimum College Academic Distribution Requirements (known as CADRs). The CADRs reflect the minimum number of credits required in six subject areas that students must earn to be eligible for routine admission consideration by four-year public baccalaureate institutions. The CADRs are not necessarily the same as the high school diploma/graduation requirements set forth by Franklin Pierce Schools. To see the overview of CADRs, please visit: https://wsac.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2014.CADRS.Overview.pdf

Public Colleges/Universities Private/Independent College/Universities
Central Washington University  Gonzaga University University of Puget Sound
Eastern Washington University  Heritage University Walla Walla University
The Evergreen State College  Pacific Lutheran University Whitman College
University of Washington  Saint Martin's University Whitworth University
Washington State University  Seattle Pacific University  
Western Washington University Seattle University  

Financial AidFor students to be considered for financial aid in Washington, one of two applications need to be completed: the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid). Financial aid consists of funds from federal, state, college or university (institutional), and private sources. These funds come in the form of grants (free!), scholarships (merit/talent based), loans, and work-study employment. 

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS OPEN OCTOBER 1ST OF SENIOR YEAR

SAT Test DatesThe SAT is one testing pathway for students who are interested in admission to 4-year colleges/universities. Here at WHS, we offer a FREE school day SAT test, including the essay, to ALL 11th graders, which usually takes place in April. 

If students are interested in taking the SAT more than once, the schedule of test dates is located at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines. 

ACT Test DatesThe ACT is another testing pathway for students who are interested in admission to 4-year colleges/universities. To view the schedule of dates and register, visit https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html#scrollNav-2-1

Test Optional Colleges & UniversitiesMore than 1000 four-year colleges and universities do not use the SAT or ACT to admit substantial numbers of bachelor-degree applicants. To view the list, visit https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional

Enlisted

ASVABASVAB stands for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. Here at WHS, we offer the ASVAB for free, once a year, in November. To sign up, please see Mrs. Moore in the Career Center. 

The ASVAB gives a score, which is the AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test). Each branch of the service has a minimum score set for entry. The minimum AFQT scores for each branch are as follows: 

  • Air Force – 36
  • Army & National Guard – 31
  • Coast Guard – 40
  • Marine Corps – 32
  • Navy – 35

While the test is provided and administered by the military, student scores are for personal and school use only and not utilized by the armed services without the student’s consent. 

Military Recruiter visitsMrs. Moore, Career Specialist, coordinates multiple visits from all the military branches throughout the school year. For more information or to contact a specific branch, please contact her directly. 

AFJROTCHere at WHS, we are home to an award winning Air Force JROTC program. JROTC stands for Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. It is a military-regulated program designed to offer high school students leadership experiences and motivate them to become better American citizens. JROTC combines classroom instruction with service to school and community, extracurricular and social activities and the chance to take on leadership roles. The WHS AFJROTC program can be taken all 4 years, if chosen to do so, and can include extracurricular Drill & Ceremonies activities. 

AFJROTC is NOT a direct entry or link to the military, although, for those high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in the military, JROTC offers relevant experience and an opportunity to improve entry-level rank.

 

Employed

WHS Career CenterWashington High School has a Career Center, which is located within the Counseling Center. Mrs. Moore, Career Specialist, connects with students on resume building, local volunteer opportunities, employment options, military information, and much, much more. 

MaiaLearningIn the near future, students will have access to MaiaLearning, a newly adopted College & Career Readiness Platform. MaiaLearning has tools for Career Research and Planning, College Planning, Interest Inventories, and more. The Portfolio will also be moving to MaiaLearning for the Class of 2022 and beyond. 

District Career FairIn the Spring of 2019, Franklin Pierce Schools held an inaugural Career Fair in partnership with WorkSource, WorkForce Central, and Pierce Transit. There were over 50 local employers and community resources on-site at the fair. Plan to look for information regarding the 2020 Pierce County Career Expo in the near future. 

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeship is a training program where you earn wages while you learn a skilled profession in a specific field, such as construction, health care, or culinary arts. Apprenticeship combines classroom studies with on-the-job training supervised by a trade professional. Much like a college education, it takes several years to become fully trained in the occupation you choose. Unlike college though, as an apprentice you’ll earn while you learn.

WorkForce CentralWorkForce Central is a partner of WorkSource and the Pierce County Workforce Development Council. Through services provided by ResCare, they offer the following to Pierce County residents between the ages of 16-24: 

  • High school completion
  • Career aptitude & skill assessments
  • Post-secondary training & education information
  • Scholarships for continued education & training
  • Leadership skills
  • Interview & Job Search skills
  • Work experience
  • Career Mentoring

For more information, visit: https://workforce-central.org/job-seekers/young-adults/