Postsecondary Planning in Middle School
Middle school is often viewed as the "fork in the road" in a child's life, the time when postsecondary planning, as well as academic rigor, must begin if it has not already. Middle school students are usually more worried about the next day than about life after high school, so parents will need to help keep them on track.
Middle school students should take challenging academic classes, including Algebra or Pre-Algebra, develop organization and study habits, and continue trying out different activities, sports, and hobbies. Conversations about careers and college should continue and, ideally, will be accompanied by visits to various job sites and college campuses.
What Parents Can Do
Help your child develop good study habits by establishing a study place at home, providing the necessary materials, and helping your child keep track of assignments and activities with a calendar or planner.
Ensure that your child gets to school on time every day. Frequent absence or tardiness has a negative impact on learning and achievement.
Know all of your child's classes and teachers and stay in contact with the school. Attend school functions to reinforce the importance of education. Monitor your child's grades on tests and report cards, and help find tutors if necessary. Meet with the school counselor to ensure that your child is enrolled in the classes that will prepare him or her for the future.
Talk to your child about his or her interests and help match those interests to a career and its necessary education or training. Visit college campuses on weekends and vacation days.
Encourage your child to get involved in the community by volunteering for local charities or service organizations. Support your child's interests and hobbies and encourage him or her to explore new ones.
Use the FAFSA4caster to estimate how much federal aid your child might receive for college. Begin saving if you haven't already.
What Students Can Do
Explore careers and colleges online. Think about your interests and how they might relate to a career.
Do your homework every night. If you don't have homework, review class notes, organize your bookbag, or begin studying for the next test.
Read every day for fun--books, magazines, or online articles.
Ask for help as soon as you don't understand something in school. Make sure you have a study buddy in every class whom you can call if you are absent or don't understand something. Spend extra time studying for the classes that are the most difficult for you.
Get involved in at least one school or community activity that you enjoy.
Take the most rigorous courses available that match your strengths and support your goals. Learn to study.
If you want to go to college but are earning B's and C's, consider applying to AVID. Advancement Via Individual Determination prepares students in the academic middle for four year colleges. AVID is offered at four WCPS middle schools and four high schools.
What Parents and Students Can Both Do
Investigate the many specialized high school programs offered in WCPS. If accepted, students from any middle school can attend one of these magnet or signature programs. Attend open houses, visit the schools, and become informed about the application processes. Visit our Advanced Programs page for more information on the programs below:
Academic Leadership Academy at South Hagerstown High School
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
Career Academies at every high school
International Baccalaureate Programme at North Hagerstown High School
Washington County Technical High School
Spend time perusing the Way2GoMaryland website, which focuses on college planning for middle school students.
Middle school students should take challenging academic classes, including Algebra or Pre-Algebra, develop organization and study habits, and continue trying out different activities, sports, and hobbies. Conversations about careers and college should continue and, ideally, will be accompanied by visits to various job sites and college campuses.
What Parents Can Do
Help your child develop good study habits by establishing a study place at home, providing the necessary materials, and helping your child keep track of assignments and activities with a calendar or planner.
Ensure that your child gets to school on time every day. Frequent absence or tardiness has a negative impact on learning and achievement.
Know all of your child's classes and teachers and stay in contact with the school. Attend school functions to reinforce the importance of education. Monitor your child's grades on tests and report cards, and help find tutors if necessary. Meet with the school counselor to ensure that your child is enrolled in the classes that will prepare him or her for the future.
Talk to your child about his or her interests and help match those interests to a career and its necessary education or training. Visit college campuses on weekends and vacation days.
Encourage your child to get involved in the community by volunteering for local charities or service organizations. Support your child's interests and hobbies and encourage him or her to explore new ones.
Use the FAFSA4caster to estimate how much federal aid your child might receive for college. Begin saving if you haven't already.
What Students Can Do
Explore careers and colleges online. Think about your interests and how they might relate to a career.
Do your homework every night. If you don't have homework, review class notes, organize your bookbag, or begin studying for the next test.
Read every day for fun--books, magazines, or online articles.
Ask for help as soon as you don't understand something in school. Make sure you have a study buddy in every class whom you can call if you are absent or don't understand something. Spend extra time studying for the classes that are the most difficult for you.
Get involved in at least one school or community activity that you enjoy.
Take the most rigorous courses available that match your strengths and support your goals. Learn to study.
If you want to go to college but are earning B's and C's, consider applying to AVID. Advancement Via Individual Determination prepares students in the academic middle for four year colleges. AVID is offered at four WCPS middle schools and four high schools.
What Parents and Students Can Both Do
Investigate the many specialized high school programs offered in WCPS. If accepted, students from any middle school can attend one of these magnet or signature programs. Attend open houses, visit the schools, and become informed about the application processes. Visit our Advanced Programs page for more information on the programs below:
Academic Leadership Academy at South Hagerstown High School
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
Career Academies at every high school
International Baccalaureate Programme at North Hagerstown High School
Washington County Technical High School
Spend time perusing the Way2GoMaryland website, which focuses on college planning for middle school students.