College Access

Students are welcome to stop by the Counseling office before school, after school or during passing time to have an appointment scheduled by our counseling clerk, Ms. Vang. Students can also email their counselor to schedule an appointment. Families are welcome to contact their child’s school counselor via email or phone. 
 

Students that are “on-track” to graduate have received passing grades (D- or above) in all of the courses that are required for graduation. To see what courses are required for your high school diploma, visit Saint Paul Public School’s Graduation Requirements page. To see whether or not you have retrieved a credit for a specific required course, students can produce their unofficial transcript in Student Infinite Campus. 
 

Saint Paul Public Schools offers families the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to track student attendance and Schoology to view student grades and progress. We recommend viewing your child’s attendance and academic progress on a weekly basis. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s experience at Johnson, you are welcome to contact the Counseling department to set up an appointment. 
 

Infinite Campus Parent is excellent for giving general information about attendance, final grades, schedules, and standardize test scores.  It is also where the iUpdate forms are found.

Schoology is the best way to keep up with your student's work.  You can see assignments, missed assignments, test scores, and more.  

Students will request for their official transcript to be sent to their chosen college or university through Xello. Students will only request an official transcript for the school they plan on attending the following Fall. For a guide on how to request a transcript through Xello, please watch the videos provided in the link below:

Requesting an Official Transcript
 

Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a dual-enrollment option for 10th, 11th, or 12th grade students looking for additional academic rigor and/or are seeking to earn college credit during their high school tenure. Students enroll as either a part-time or full-time student at a local college or university, providing their own transportation to and from the site. 

Students will take courses with other college-aged students on a college campus. Students who complete an approved course at the college will receive credit at both Johnson and the college which they are attending. Tuition, books and lab fees are covered by the Saint Paul Public School District. To see what types of courses are offered through PSEO, please view the Rigorous Course Catalog:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17q46pmYeDF-eGG4V-ReSoyP4hO2j0pToP7zyoJONc0M/edit?gid=1539286011#gid=1539286011

Is PSEO right for me? 
Students who find success at PSEO possess the following:

-Completion of, and success in, (B or above), accelerated coursework (Ex: Accelerated Chemistry, AP English, CIS US History, etc.) 
-Possess strong self-discipline, advocacy, time management and study skills 
-Have transportation to and from a college site
-Feel comfortable working in student groups with students that may be older than you
-Interest in earning college credit
-Looking for an opportunity to experience academic rigor beyond accelerated courses in high school setting 

For students who are interested in earning college credit, but feel that PSEO may not be the best fit during your 11th or 12th grade year, we highly recommend enrolling in our many College in the Schools (CIS) and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. 

How do I get enrolled in PSEO? 

First, make an appointment with your school counselor at Johnson to discuss your interest in PSEO. 

Secondly, explore where you would like to do your PSEO experience. Some of the most common sites that students attend are: 

Century College https://www.century.edu/admissions/high-school-options/post-secondary-enrollment-options/new-pseo-applicants/

Metropolitan State University 
https://www.metrostate.edu/apply/get-started/pseo

Saint Paul College
https://www.saintpaul.edu/admissions/type-of-student/pseo/

University of Minnesota 
https://ccaps.umn.edu/post-secondary-enrollment-options-pseo 

Thirdly, complete the necessary steps to apply to the college you are interested in. Each college or university is required to provide you with information regarding application timeline, required documents, and application process.You will need to provide your school counselor with a Notice of Registration Form, which explains to the college your intent of being enrolled as both a college student and high school student with Saint Paul Public Schools. 

Lastly, once you have been accepted to the college, you will receive communication from them about an orientation session. The orientation will give you information about how to register for courses. Be sure to communicate with your high school counselor about which classes you plan to register for. Once you have registered, email your high school counselor a copy of your PSEO schedule so that they can update your Johnson schedule. 
 

Saint Paul Public Schools offers summer school programming and after-school credit recovery throughout the school year for students that are missing credits needed for graduation. 

Check your Schoology under the tab “Groups” and  “Class of 202X” page for updates from your Counselors about credit recovery opportunities during the current school year. 
 

Students requesting a letter of recommendation from their counselor must complete, and return,  the Letter of Recommendation/Scholarship worksheet two weeks prior to their application deadline. 

(Example: Scholarship Due Date: October 15th 
Return Letter of Recommendation/Scholarship Worksheet to Counselor: October 1st)

Students can visit the Counseling office to request a physical copy of the Letter of Recommendation/Scholarship Worksheet. It is also here.
 

The ACT is a college entrance exam that shows your academic readiness in subject areas of English, Math, Reading and Science. When applying to post-secondary institutions, your ACT score shows a college or university if your level of academic skillset will be a good match for the school’s level of coursework. The exam is 2 hours long and students must follow protocol advised by supervising staff (Ex: No airpods/headphones allowed, cell phones must be kept in backpacks away from testing tables, etc.)

Saint Paul Public Schools offers the opportunity to take the ACT free of charge to students during the Spring of their 11th grade year. ACT practice resources can be found here. For additional questions regarding the ACT, please contact your school counselor. 

How do I sign up for the ACT? 
When you register for these test, you will need to know the Johnson High School code: 242-265
Registration information can be found:
ACT: www.actstudent.org
SAT: collegeboard.com
 

Go see Mr. Billy in the CCRC right next door to the counseling office!  You can email him at cbvang.ach@spps.org.  Mr. Billy runs a FAFSA (or Financial Aid) night for families and he will meet with students and families if requested!

Or use Xello.  This page can get you started.