Class of 2027 Counselor Connection

All freshmen will be enrolled in the Class of 2027 Canvas Page once they are active students at ORHS. The Canvas page will be updated frequently. Parents can view this Canvas Page as Observers. If you need help with Canvas, contact Mr. Dunkel.

• St. Mary's Registration will be on February 27th.

• 9th Grade Orientation will TENTATIVELY be on Thursday, July 20, 2023 from 8am-11am.

• School Starts on Monday, July 24th.

• Back to School Bash will be at Blankenship Field on Saturday, July 29 from 6pm-8pm.

Please click on the video below to view the slide show that was presented to 8th graders prior to the tour on February 16, 2023. Topics covered include graduation requirements and GPA.

Visit the ORHS Curriculum Page for links to:

• The complete 2023-2024 Academic Planning Guide
• Once available, the ORHS Tutoring Schedule will be posted on the Curriculum Page.
  

Q. Where can I view a list of my course options?

A. Click on this link to see the 9th grade course options:

Scroll down to "Links to Important Documents" and click on 2024 Course Offerings for the Class of 2027.

Q. What classes do most freshmen take?

A. All freshmen are required to take a Math, English and a Science. Most freshmen take a social studies but not all. Your counselor will discuss this with you but the general rule on social studies is that English 9 Combined Studies Students will take AP Government, English 9 Honors students may take AP Gov as sophomores and English 9 CP students will take CP Government. Many freshman also try to get graduation requirements complete early so in addition to their English, Math, Science and Social Studies (if applicable), they also take World Language, a Fine Art, Wellness A & B, and an elective of their choice.

Q. Does JROTC count for multiple credits?

A. Yes, Taking two full credits of JROTC also counts as Wellness B and Wellness C. Taking three full credits of JROTC counts for Wellness B, Wellness C, Government, and Personal Finance. JROTC can also count as an Area of Focus.

Q. Do Band and Color Guard count as multiple credits?

A. Yes, taking Band or Color Guard also counts as Wellness C and meets the fine Art graduation requirement.

Q. How can I earn my Wellness C credit (additional half credit of PE that is required for graduation)?

A. Students can earn Wellness C by taking Wellness B twice, by taking Wellness C as a lunch class, by taking PE or Athletic Conditioning, by participating in a full season of a school sponsored sport, by completing a full credit of Marching Band or Color Guard, by participating in a full season of ORHS Cheer or ORHS Dance.

Q. What is a "Lunch Class"?

A. 9th and 10th grade lunches are 25 minutes long. 11th and 12th grade lunches are 50 minutes long. 9th and 10th graders take a yearlong 25 minute class opposite their lunch. For example, if lunch is 3A, 3B will need to be a lunch class such as Lunch Study Hall, Walking Wellness C, Coding, or Wildcat Scholars (if recommended).

Q. Are community service hours required for graduation?

A. No. There is no community service requirement to graduate from ORHS. All graduation requirements are listed on the Graduation Requirements Chart below in the document section. Some scholarships (such as the TN Promise) require community service but there is absolutely no community service hour requirement for graduation.

Q. What is Middle College?

A. Middle College is when students attend Roane State Community College for their 11th and 12th grade years of high school. They earn an Associate's Degree at the same time as they earn their ORHS diploma. Middle college students must complete Algebra 2 and Chemistry by the end of their sophomore year and meet ACT or PreACT test score requirements. You will receive more information about this during your sophomore year.

Q. What is Early Graduation?

A. Early Graduation is when Seniors finish high school during December of their senior year. See the Early Graduation Application below for requirements.

Q. What is an Area of Focus?

A. Students must earn three credits in the same Area of Focus. Refer to your APG or ask your counselor for more information.

Naviance is College & Career Software that Oak Ridge Schools provides for the students in our district. The ORHS Counselors have been tracking college admissions data in Naviance since 2015. You will have to use Naviance as a senior to request transcripts and letters of recommendation that are sent to colleges. It is in your best interest to start using it now so you are already familiar with Naviance when you start your senior year.

All active ORHS students can log into their Naviance accounts by visiting this website and clicking the blue button that says "Sign In with Clever". Students will sign in with their Active Directory information. Be sure to sign in with Clever - you cannot sign in with a Naviance ID.

Taking the ACT is a graduation requirement in the state of Tennessee. All students will have two free opportunities to take the ACT: in the spring of the junior year and the fall of the senior year. The free tests will be given at ORHS.

To take the ACT any other time, students must register HERE. Dates, cost, and all additional information are available on the ACT website. Visit the School Counseling office if you believe you may qualify for an ACT fee waiver. This requires a student to receive free/reduced lunch.

The first step for college bound athletes should be to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Visit ncaa.org to learn about the latest initial-eligibility news, requirements you must meet to play sports on campus, and the best resources for you as you pursue your dreams of studying and competing at an NCAA Division I or II school.

Most scholarships require students to be seniors to apply but there are some exceptions.

The vast majority of financial aid and scholarships will come directly from the colleges and universities you are applying to but be sure to check these scholarship websites often to stay informed about other potential scholarships:

ORHS Scholarship Page

www.collegexpress.com

www.fasteb.com

www.scholarships.com

www.myscholly.com

www.scholarships360.org

www.goingmerry.com

Unigo.com

salliemae.com/scholarshipsearch

www.cappex.com (Unique in that it allows you to search merit aid at many schools, not just private scholarships)

https://accessscholarships.com/

HELPFUL ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Here's Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid
This is a list of lists. Broken into categories like grade level, major, military, LGBTQ, etc...

This is a list of Colleges that meet full demonstrated need and colleges that are need-blind

This is a spreadsheet of Average need and merit aid statistics

This is a list of colleges with full ride scholarships based on MERIT.

This is an additional list of competitive scholarship resources and programs.

The best way for students to set up a time to meet with me is to stop by the Counseling Office and ask Ms. O'Rourke, the Counseling Office's Administrative Assistant, to schedule an appointment. Students are encouraged to stop by before school, during the lunch break, or after school to make an appointment. If the student's need is urgent or an emergency, students must tell O'Rourke and she will find a counselor immediately.

If parents need to schedule an appointment, please call Ms. O'Rourke at (865) 425-9607 to schedule a time. Counselors are in the office from 7:40 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.

Parents and students are also welcome to email Mrs. Ottinger.

Email: bottinger@ortn.edu
Website: https://www.ortn.edu/highschool/academics/school-counseling/
Location: 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
Phone: (865)425-9607
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakridgehighschoolcounseling
Twitter: @ORHSCounseling