DC SBOE

Five years. Your Journey 8th, 12th.

A grade-by-grade roadmap for the moves that compound: courses, tests, service hours, applications, and aid. One milestone at a time.

Published ByDC State Board of Education
Education journey · 8th → 12thYear by year
A five-year roadmap

Your education journey, year by year.

Five grade levels. The actions that matter most at each stage. Print this and check items off as your student completes them, small moves now compound into big options at the end.

8Explore

Build your high-school plan

  • Research DC high-school options, DCPS, charter, application.
  • Attend high-school fairs and open houses in the fall.
  • Apply through the My School DC lottery, early-March ranking deadline.
  • Take any required placement tests for application schools.
  • Meet with the middle-school counselor about course planning.
  • Begin community-service hours toward the 100-hour requirement.
9Build foundation

Grades count from day one

  • Take challenging courses, GPA starts here.
  • Join clubs, sports, or extracurriculars.
  • Learn about AP, IB, CTE, and Dual Enrollment options.
  • Build relationships with teachers (future recommenders).
  • Create a four-year course plan with your counselor.
  • IEP students: discuss transition planning goals.
10Expand

Test, try, research

  • Take the PSAT in October (practice for SAT).
  • Enroll in your first AP, IB, or CTE course.
  • Consider Dual Enrollment for summer or next year.
  • Continue community service, aim for 50 hours total.
  • Begin researching colleges and careers.
  • Attend college fairs and career-exploration events.
11Focus

The most important year

  • Take SAT/ACT in spring (register early).
  • Take AP exams in May for college credit.
  • Visit colleges over spring break.
  • Build a college list, reach, match, safety.
  • Ask teachers for recommendation letters in spring.
  • Complete the 100-hour community-service requirement.
  • Connect with DC-CAP for free college advising.
12Apply & decide

Send it. Compare. Commit.

  • Complete the FAFSA, opens October 1, file early.
  • Apply for DC TAG (early February through August 15).
  • Submit college applications by each school's deadline.
  • Apply for scholarships continuously.
  • Compare financial-aid offers using net cost.
  • Commit to one school by May 1 (National Decision Day).
  • Finish your final 24 credits, graduate, and celebrate.
Start early, stay consistent Each year builds on the last. The students who thrive are the ones who keep showing up, at school, at fairs, at the counselor's door, and on FAFSA day. If you ever feel behind, pick the next single action from this list and start there.
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