Preparing for college can be an overwhelming process, but there are many resources available to help. Each high school has a college specialist (or two) to help students. It's a great idea to develop a relationship with your specialist. He/she will be a huge asset throughout high school.

Parents and students also have access to a fantastic website through Rockwood. Family Connection allows you to create your resume, search for colleges, and graph your scores/grades against students from your high school who have applied to a school in the past. You need a registration code for the site. Please contact your college office for that information.

Students need to start early by choosing challenging courses and a variety of extracurricular activities. They are always welcome to come to the gifted education office to talk through the possibilities.

Rockwood School District Gifted Program
High School Testing by Grade Level

9th	□   EXPLORE (if not taken in 8th grade) □   PSAT (optional) – Sept. registration/Oct. exam
10th	□   PLAN (pre – ACT) – automatically given at school in the fall □   PSAT – optional (highly recommended) Sept. registration/Oct. exam □   ACT – recommended for students who have completed Advanced Algebra □   AP Exams (depending upon courses taken) - spring □   SAT Subject Tests (depending upon courses taken)
11th	□   PSAT - Sept. registration/Oct. exam □   ACT and/or SAT □   AP Exams (depending upon courses taken) - spring □   SAT Subject Tests (depending upon courses taken)
12th	□   ACT and/or SAT □   AP Exams (depending upon courses taken) - spring □   SAT Subject Tests (depending upon courses taken)

EXPLORE is usually given to 8th graders in Rockwood. (If students miss it for any reason in 8th grade, they will take it in 9th.)

PLAN is a pre-ACT given to Rockwood 10th graders in the fall. (www.act.org) Rockwood will use either this test or the PSAT to determine nominations for Missouri Scholars Academy.

PSAT is a pre-SAT that any high school student can choose to take in the fall. 9th and 10th graders take it as a practice exam. For 11th graders, this test is used as a qualifying test for the National Merit Program. (www.collegeboard.com) Rockwood will use either this test or the PLAN to determine nominations for Missouri Scholars Academy.

ACT and SAT are college entrance exams - students need to take ONE of these to apply to college. (www.act.org and www.collegeboard.com)

AP and SAT Subject Tests are subject specific tests that may be needed to earn college credit and/or determine placement into the appropriate level of college classes. (www.collegeboard.com)

Some useful sites:

SAT Scores for Admission to Top Colleges

Compare ACT Scores for Top Colleges

Does the PSAT Matter?