Fort Walton Beach High School Guidance
Department
presents…
NAVIGATING THROUGH HIGH
SCHOOL
Meet Your Guidance
Office Staff
Professional School Counselors
Dr. Linda Dugan students A-D
Mrs. Christy Simms students E-L
Mrs. Susan Ver Steeg students M-R
Mrs. Lori Lipnicky students S-Z
Guidance Secretaries
Mrs. Jan Shaffer
Mrs. Cindy Lemasters
Assistant Principal
Mrs. Merchelle Hixson-Wells
Graduation Requirements
4 credits
English Language Arts
1 credit
Algebra 1
1 credit
Geometry
2 credits
Additional math courses
1 credit
Biology
2 credits
Additional science courses
1 credit
World History
1 credit
United States History
½ credit
United States Government
½ credit
Economics with Financial Literacy
1 credit
Fine, performing or practical arts
1 credit
Physical Education, to include the integration of health
8 credits
Electives
1 course
Online learning (counts as one of the 24 credits)
Graduation Requirements, cont.
REQUIRED
ASSESSMENTS
Minimum 2.0
unweighted GPA
Completion of 1
online course
within the 24
credits
Foreign language is NOT
required for graduation, but
is required for admission
into state universities and
for Bright Futures.
Community service hours
are not required for
graduation but are required
for Bright Futures.
•Must earn a passing
score on the FSA/ELA
• Must earn a passing
score on the Algebra
1end-of-course exam
Summa Cum Laude
Magna Cum Laude
Cum Laude
GPA 4.25 and above
GPA 4.0-4.2499
GPA 3.75-3.9999
Configured at the end of the seventh
semester of the senior year based
on the CUMULATIVE WEIGHTED
GRADE POINT AVERAGE
Did you know that by using
floridashines.org you can
monitor your transcript? Florida Shines
also gives you access to:
Career choices and development
Graduation requirements
College entrance requirements
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program
Academic planning
Graduation status
Help with how to pay for college
Assessments for Juniors & Seniors
to Consider
ACT – www.actstudent.org
SAT – www.collegeboard.com
PERT (Post Secondary Education Readiness Test)
http://www.nwfsc.edu/Students/Enrollment/TestingCent
er/PERT/
One of the best ways to figure out if you
might be accepted by a college is to look
at the freshman profile and see how you
compare. Refer to handout for college
website addresses.
University of Florida
Average GPA: 4.40
Average ACT score: 29.5
Average(old: Reading, Writing ,Math)SAT score: 1950
(new: Reading/Writing Combined, Math) SAT score: 1370
Deadline to apply – November 1
www.uf.edu
Florida State University
www.fsu.edu GPA: 4.2
Average GPA: 4.20
Average ACT score: 28.5
Average(old: Reading, Writing, Math)SAT score: 1870
(new: Reading/Writing Combined, Math) SAT score: 1330
Deadline to apply – October 19
ACT: 29
Average SAT score: 1930
Deadline for application: Oct 15
University of Central Florida
2nd largest university in the United States with an enrollment of 60,810,
and growing!
Average GPA: 4.00
Average ACT score: 27.0
Average(old: Reading, Writing, Math)SAT score: 1845
(new: Reading/Writing Combined, Math) SAT score: 1315
Deadline to apply – Rolling Admissions
Average GPA: 4.0
Average ACT score: 27
Average SAT score: 1800
Rolling admissions – apply
as early as possible!
www.ucf.edu
University of West Florida
Average GPA: 3.60
Average ACT score: 23.0
Average(old: Reading, Writing, Math)SAT score:1558
(new: Reading/Writing Combined, Math) SAT
score:1107
Deadline to apply – Rolling Admissions

Scholarship Opportunities
Ms. Julie Smith runs the College and Career Center.
Seniors should be visiting her now for important
scholarship information. Visit the FWBHS scholarship
page at
http://www.okaloosaschools.com/fwb/scholarship
Good websites for scholarship opportunities
www.fastweb.com
www.scholarships.com
www.cappex.com
www.raise.me.com
What should SENIORS do now?
Continue to work hard. Grades are important!
Get the scores you want or need. Take and retake the ACT or SAT .
Create an admissions calendar. Mark down all the important deadlines in your college application process.
Build your Self-reported Student Academic Record (SSAR) if necessary.
Apply for admission to your college(s) of choice on time.
Apply for Bright Futures. The application window opens on October 1 of each year.
Apply for financial aid. The FAFSA application opens on October 1 of each year.
Take care of business. Register for previews and orientations. Apply for housing. Pay deposits.
What should JUNIORS do now?
Grades are key. Don’t lose your academic focus.
Get the scores you want or need. Take the ACT or SAT .
Narrow down your choices. Pick your favorites colleges and do your research.
Think about your senior schedule. Make sure you are on track to graduate.
Summer visitations. Visit as many of your top colleges as you can.
If a student has taken or will take an AICE or AP class or an ACT
or SAT test, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure the
college of your choice receives the test score.
How is this done?
•AICE has a special transcript request form that the student
must mail directly to AICE. A transcript request form may be
picked up in the guidance office.
•AP and SAT test score requests can be made through
collegeboard.com.
•ACT test score requests can be made through
www.actstudent.org
 Know your deadlines!
 Apply early
 FWBHS is CLOSED for the
WINTER and SPRING BREAK
HOLIDAYS! Make all
transcript requests early to
meet your DEADLINES!