Counseling Staff
Highland High School's counselors and staff welcome you and want to help you become the best you can be, by giving you the tools you need to be successful throughout high school and beyond.
Students are encouraged to contact their counselors for personal and academic guidance. The counselors are available to discuss any home, school, or social concerns.
Counselors:
Head Counselor; McKinney Vento Liason | https://makebahale.youcanbook.me/ | Grades 9-12 | x371 | |
TAMEIKO COCKRELL B-Cos |
PSA Academy Counselor | https://tcockrell.youcanbook.me/ | Grades 9-12 | x373 |
LORI FIMBRES Cot-Garc |
AVC Double-Up; SpEd Scheduling Support | https://lfimbres.youcanbook.me/ | Grades 9-12 | x372 |
MEGAN POWELL Gard-Joi |
CSF; NCAA; Opp. Intervention Counselor | https://mpowell6.youcanbook.me/ | Grades 9-12 | x369 |
ANGELA ROBERTSON Jon-Mc |
EL & Foreign Exchange Counselor | https://angelarobertson.youcanbook.me/ | Grades 9-12 | x379 |
CYNTHIA MESLER Me-Pa |
McKinney Vento & AVID Counselor | https://camesler.youcanbook.me/ | Grades 9-12 | x374 |
CASSANDRA DUMAS Pe-Sh |
Resilient Scholar & Independent City Rep. | https://cdumas.youcanbook.me/ | Grades 9-12 | x370 |
MARIANA BARAJAS Sk-Z |
Grades 9-12 | x381 | ||
OLABISI SULE-ODU Educational Social Worker x647
SHANETTE IZADI Educational Social Worker x642
MARIAH AMAYA Resilient Scholar Liaison x134
LISA SACCA Registration Pupil Services Technician x341
EDIRNA (GABY) BAZAN Guidance Clerk x376 Counseling FAX 661-538-908
SARA KIM Registrar x383 Registrar FAX 661-538-1031
Enrollment
~What you need ~
Numbers 1, 2 and 3 are non-negotiable - student will not be enrolled without all three of them!
1. Address verification in parent/Guardian's name (two current utility bills, closing escrow papers or rental agreement, dated within the past 60 days), OR your AVUHSD open enrollment approval letter.
2. Up-to-date immunizations (click here to see CA requirements).
3. Birth certificate to verify date of birth.
4. Withdrawal grades AND unofficial transcript. This is so we can properly place Student in classes. OR for incoming 9th graders, most recent progress report or report card, if available, or promotion certificate to show completion of 8th grade.
5. Parent/Guardian's State issued identification or driver's license.
6. Court documents of custody or guardianship, if applicable.
7. IEP or 504 Plan if Student has one.
Students are required to attend the school in the area in which the parent/guardian resides.
A family living with another family who cannot provide proof of residency or caregivers of students whose parent/guardian lives outside the Antelope Valley will be referred to our community attendance worker (CAW) for approval prior to registration.
Foster parents must provide placement documentation. Legal guardians must show guardianship/court documentation.
Any fraudulent information/documentation may result in the withdrawal of your student(s) from HHS.
hhs-registration@avhsd.org For Enrollment Inquiries
College & Career
- AVC Info
- Brag Sheet
- College Info
- College Search
- College Testing
- Financial Aid
- Military
- $cholarship$
- Transcripts
AVC Info
For a top-notch education before you transition to a 4-year college, consider Antelope Valley College (AVC). There are many programs for either a degree or certification, depending on the career you choose.
Click on the boxes to find out how to apply, check out scholarships, study for the assessments, and more!
AVC HOME AVC Admissions AVC Palmdale AVC Scholarships AVC BRIDGE COUNSELING
Brag Sheet
A brag sheet is used to write information about yourself that can be given to a staff member (teacher, counselor, etc), coach, club advisor, or employer when asking for a letter of recommendation.
- Download this form to your desktop, save, then complete and save again.
- Be as specific as possible.
- Save this document so you can go back to it and update it as often as necessary and print copies when needed.
- Make sure you give those you want recommendations from plenty of time to complete their letters, at least 2 weeks in advance.
- Ask them to save their recommendations for you so you may ask them for an updated reference letter in the future.
You can also find a Brag Sheet Survey in your PowerSchool account!
(Note: Beginning your Brag Sheet in 9th grade and updating it each time you have a new activity, sport or receive an award helps, because when you're a senior filling out the form for the first time, it's hard to remember all those things!)
College Info
UC Website UC Application Guide UC Personal Insight Questions
UC ACADEMIC PLANNERS - FOR STUDENTS GRADES 9-12
College Search
Searching for colleges? Check out the following websites!
THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT BEING THE FIRST…
…especially being the first in your family to attend and graduate from college. I'm First! is an online community for first-generation college students—and their supporters. Hear inspiring stories and share your own, discover colleges that care about first-gen students, find answers to your questions about college, and receive guidance on the road to and through college.
Use Collegeboard's "Big Future" site to search for colleges, narrow down majors and career options, learn how to pay for college, and how to make a tangible plan. They offer information on everything from careers and majors to personal statements and financial aid. Use Big Future to prepare yourself for the road ahead!
College Testing
~ SAT and ACT
SAT and ACT - What's the Difference?
Apply for the SAT SAT Test Dates
Apply for the ACT ACT Test Dates
PRACTICE taking your SAT, with the FREE new app called SAT Up, at the iTunes App Store, or on Google play!
PRACTICE taking your ACT, with the FREE new app called called ACT Prep, also at the iTunes App Store, or on Google Play!
SAT
Log on to www.collegeboard.org for the closest test sites and exact dates. You are entitled to four prepaid reports of your scores. List four colleges that you are interested in. Each time that you have your test score sent, the college receives your most recent score and all previous scores to six SAT I and six SAT Subject tests administrations. If you don’t request that copies of your scores are sent to colleges within nine days from the time you took the test, you will have to pay $11.25 for each score report that is sent beyond those nine days.
The CEEB code (Highland School Code) is 052541. Please remember to use this number on your applications for college admissions tests.
ACT
Log on to www.actstudent.org for the closest test sites and exact dates. The ACT consists of tests in four academic areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. It is highly recommended to take the ACT with the ‘Writing’ component. Scores are reported on a scale 1-36 for each area, plus a composite of all scores. There is no penalty for incorrect answers. (There is a penalty for incorrect answers on the SAT I and SAT Subject Tests). Students should utilize preparation materials before taking the ACT. The ACT should be taken in the spring semester of the 11th grade and can be taken again in September, October, or December the testings during the senior year. Most East Coast schools prefer the ACT over the SAT, but may accept either as an entrance criterion. Since most California schools accept either, students are recommended to take both exams. It is always a good idea to check the specific test requirements for admission to the particular college(s) you are considering. Visit the college’s website under ‘Admissions’ for that information.
HOW AND WHEN DO I SIGN UP FOR THE SAT/ACT?
Online registration is preferred by both the ACT and SAT testing agencies. Go to sat.collegeboard.org or ACTstudent.org to register. Be sure to print out your admission ticket and take it with you on test day, as well as a school or government photo I.D. Paper registration (by mail) is necessary if you need to pay with a check (or money order) or cannot upload a digital photo. An admission ticket for the SAT I or SAT Subject Tests (if application is postmarked by the regular deadline) will be mailed to you before the test. Remember, the CEEB code for HHS is 052541.
TRANSCRIPTS
Transcripts can be requested through Parchment.com or Naviance. The Antelope Valley Union High School District uses Naviance for electronically submitting official transcripts to colleges and universities upon graduation. For information on how to arrange for the submission of your mid-year and final transcripts, go to your Naviance account by clicking Naviance Student on our website and signing in with your PowerSchool credentials. There is no charge for this service. Unofficial transcripts can also be downloaded to your desktop through your Naviance account. You should not request that a transcript be sent to a college until that college requests that it be sent. For official transcripts visit the Registrar's office.
Financial Aid
FAFSA, Cal Grant and the Dream Act
Remember to file your FAFSA and Cal-Grant or Dream Act by March 2nd! The application opens in December, and parents can use their tax information from the previous year.
Check out this 3 minute CA Dream Act Application presentation!
CAL-GRANT OPT OUT FORMS
Per Assembly Bill (AB) 2160, all seniors will have a Cal Grant GPA submitted electronically by their high school, to the California Student Aid Commission, unless a signed Opt Out form is returned to the Guidance Office by October 1st of their senior year. Please see the English or Spanish version of this document below for more information regarding the process.
Military
MILITARY INFORMATION:
Dept. of Defense Military Career Info www.militarycareers.com
U.S. Air Force 800-423-USAF www.airforce.com
U.S. Air Force Reserve 800-257-1212 www.afreserve.com
U.S. Air National Guard 800-TO-GO-ANG www.ang.af.mil
U.S. Army 800-USA-ARMY www.goarmy.com U.S. Army Reserve 800-USA-ARMY www.goarmy.com/usar/
U.S. Army National Guard 800-GO-GUARD www.1800goguard.com
U.S. Coast Guard 877-NOW-USCG www.gocoastguard.com
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve 800-424-8883 www.uscg.mil
U.S. Marine Corps 800-MARINES www.marines.com
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 800-MARINES www.marines.com
U.S. Navy 800-USA-NAVY https://www.navy.mil/ U.S. Navy Reserve 866-NAVRESI www.navalreserve.com
$cholarship$
Scholarships are a great way to pay for school or to get money in your pocket. Scholarships can range from $50 - $20,000 and sometimes more. Some scholarships require an essay, but the effort is definitely worth the free money! The more scholarships you apply for, the better, because small amounts of money add up.
SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS
Scholarships are supposed to be free to apply for. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams out there, so it's best to be prepared. Click here for more information.
Also join our HHS Scholarship Google Classroom. Contact Mrs. Holguin at lholguin@avhsd.org for details.
The following scholarship sites are some of your best options and will aid you in your search for college cash:
Big FutureCalifornia Colleges FastWebSallieMaeSTUDENTSCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED
Transcripts
Highland graduates in need of an official transcript will use PARCHMENT. There is a minimal fee for each official transcript using this online service.
Academics
- District Graduation Requirements
- HHS Graduation + 4-Year College Eligibility Comparison
- Approved A-G List
- A-G? What's That?
District Graduation Requirements
MINIMUM PROFICIENCY STANDARDS
In accordance with California Education Code, students must pass Algebra 1 or a higher-level math class in order to receive a high school diploma.
CLASSROOM CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS
- If a student receives more than three “U” grades he/she shall be ineligible for school activities for the quarter following that grading period. There will be no makeup for the “U” in citizenship.
- A senior must meet citizenship eligibility requirements in the final two quarters of their senior year in order to participate in graduation ceremonies. Administration reserves the right to deny participation in graduation ceremonies, per board policy, to students with significant discipline concerns.
ATHLETICS/ACTIVITIES ELIGIBILITY
- Student must have at least a “C” Grade Point Average (2.0 GPA) as of the last quarter.
- Student must have a satisfactory citizenship grade (no more than two “U” grades) in a grading period.
ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY OR CLASS OFFICE ELIGIBILITY
- Student must maintain a 2.5 GPA.
- Student must have a satisfactory citizenship grade (no more than two “U” grades) in a grading period.
HHS Graduation + 4-Year College Eligibility Comparison
Approved A-G List
A-G? What's That?
Here's what we mean by A - G
University of California - Subject Requirements A-G
A- History/Social Science - 2 years required Two years of history/social science, including one year of World History, Cultures and Geography; and one year of U.S. History or one-half year of U.S. History and one half year of Civics or American Government.
B- English - 4 years required Four years of college-preparatory English that include frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature. Not more than two semesters of ninth-grade English or no more than one year of ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement.
C- Mathematics - 3 years required, 4 years recommended Three years of college-preparatory mathematics which include the topics covered in Elementary and Advanced Algebra and two- and three-dimensional Geometry. Approved Integrated Math courses may be used to fulfill part or all of these requirements, as may math courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades that your high school accepts as equivalent to its own math courses.
D- Laboratory Science - 2 years required, 3 years recommended Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three core disciplines: Biology (which includes Anatomy, Physiology, Marine Biology, etc.), Chemistry and Physics. The final two years of an approved three-year integrated science program may be used to fulfill this requirement. Not more than one year of ninth-grade laboratory science can be used to meet this requirement.
E- Language Other than English - 2 years required, 3 years recommended Two years of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition and culture. Courses in a language other than English taken in the seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part of this requirement if your high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.
F- Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) - 1 year required Two semesters of approved arts courses from a single VPA discipline: Dance, Drama/Theater, Music or Visual Art.
G- College Preparatory Electives - 1 year required One year (two semesters), in addition to those required in "a-f" above, chosen from the following areas: Visual and Performing Arts (non-introductory level courses), History, Social Science, English, Advanced Mathematics, Laboratory Science and language other than English (a third year in the language used for the "e" requirement or two years of another language).