High School Checklists

Use these grade-level checklists to stay on track with important preparation milestones throughout high school.

9th Grade – Getting Started
Freshman year is the time to settle in, find your strengths, and build good habits. You don’t need to have everything figured out! Just be curious, do your best, and make the most of the opportunities around you.
  • Get connected. Build relationships with your teachers, advisor, and classmates. Ask questions, seek help when you need it, and make the most of your advising time.
  • Plan ahead. Begin building your four-year course plan and explore classes that connect with your interests and goals. Talk with your parents, teachers, advisor, and college & career counselor as you plan.
  • Discover your strengths. Use Naviance and other opportunities to explore your interests, abilities, and areas for growth. Consider how God has uniquely gifted and equipped you.
  • Build good habits. Set a few meaningful goals and give your best effort in every class. The habits and relationships you build now will serve you throughout high school and beyond.
  • Get involved. Explore a sport, club, the arts, church, service, or another interest. You don’t need to do everything. Find something meaningful and invest in it.
  • Look ahead. Take the spring PSAT, begin talking with your family about college costs, and consider a strong summer experience that helps you grow.
10th Grade | Discover & Explore
Sophomore year is when to deepen your interests, challenge yourself, and begin looking beyond LCS.
  • Go deeper. Continue investing in the activities and interests that matter to you. Look for opportunities to take on greater responsibility or leadership, while keeping academics a priority.
  • Challenge yourself academically. Work with your advisor and teachers to plan your junior year. Consider where you can challenge yourself and make sure you understand prerequisites for advanced courses.
  • Make the most of the PSAT. Take the fall PSAT seriously, review your results, and use them to identify areas for growth. Explore resources such as Khan Academy to strengthen your skills before taking future tests.
  • Explore colleges and careers. Visit colleges when you travel, attend college fairs, and ask thoughtful questions. Take notes on what fits and what doesn’t.
  • Use advising well. Prepare for advising meetings. Use this time to reflect on your gifts, interests, goals, and the ways God may be shaping your path.
  • Plan a purposeful summer. Look for an experience that helps you explore an interest or grow your skills. Continue talking with your family about planning and saving for college.
11th Grade | Plan & Pursue
Junior year is for serious preparation, exploring options, and thoughtful consideration about what comes next.
  • Stay focused and challenge yourself. Junior year courses are more demanding, so stay engaged, build strong relationships with your teachers, and ask for help when you need it. Work with your advisor and family to finalize a challenging, balanced senior-year schedule.
  • Prepare for college testing. Take the fall PSAT and use your results to identify areas for growth. Prepare for and take the SAT or ACT in the winter or spring, with the option to retest later if needed.
  • Research and visit colleges. Use Naviance and other resources to explore colleges. Visit a range of schools, attend college fairs and, and take good notes.
  • Think through costs. Talk with your family about college costs, financial aid, and saving. Explore each college’s financial aid information and use online calculators and other tools to understand potential costs.
  • Begin preparing your story. Create a resume in Naviance and keep it updated with activities, work, service, leadership, honors, and other meaningful experiences. Begin identifying teachers who know you well and could speak to your character, growth, and academic abilities.
  • Narrow your list and plan your summer. By summer, aim to have a balanced list of colleges that fit your goals. Use the summer to deepen an interest through work, service, an internship, research, a course, or another meaningful experience. Begin preparing for the college application process.
12th Grade | Next Steps
Senior year is the time to follow through, make decisions, and prepare to transition. Stay focused, use the support around you, and finish well.
  • Keep working hard. Senior year matters. Stay engaged in your classes, continue to challenge yourself, and give your best effort through graduation.
  • Stay organized and on track. Keep a calendar of application, testing, financial aid, scholarship, and other important deadlines. Use your advising and college & career meetings to stay informed and ask questions along the way.
  • Complete your applications. Submit Early Action, Early Decision, Priority, Rolling, and Regular Decision applications according to their deadlines. Request transcripts and teacher recommendations early to give recommenders plenty of time. Be sure to thank those who help and invest in you.
  • Plan for financial aid. Complete the FAFSA with your family and continue researching scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Pay attention to each college’s requirements and deadlines.
  • Make a thoughtful decision. As admission and financial aid offers arrive, carefully consider each option with your family, advisor, and college & career counselor. Once you decide, complete your enrollment, housing, orientation, and other required steps.
  • Finish well. Keep showing up, even after your applications are submitted. Your final semester matters. Finish strong, celebrate well, and step forward confidently.