Counseling

Career & College Counseling

The Counseling Center offers a variety of services to students and parents, including academic advising, career planning, and college planning, among others. Students may work one-on-one with their counselor or in small groups to explore career issues and career planning topics. The Counselors work with the advisory planning committee on various college and career skill building and exploration activities.

Senior students complete a personalized conference with their counselor in the fall of their senior year. This conference reviews
remaining graduation credits and establishes an individualized plan for transition to college, career, or military goals. College
selection and application steps along with financing a college education is also reviewed.

College Classes - Concurrent Enrollment

Students may receive high school and/or college credit for college level courses offered by Morgan Community College. See the
FMHS Student Registration Guide or contact your school counselor for more details.

Counseling Services

Students at Fort Morgan High School are encouraged to contact their counselor regarding questions and concerns of any kind--academic, social, or emotional. Problems related to educational, career, and personal decisions are areas where counselors can be of assistance to students. Counselors are advocates for students within the school. Each student is assigned a counselor upon entrance to the high school as follows:
A – L (GRADES 11-12) MRS. TRACI REEVES 970-370-6679
M – Z (GRADES 11-12) MRS. AMY PROUTY 970-370-6680
A – L (GRADE 9-10) MR. RYAN EINSPAHR 970-441-2721
M – Z (GRADE 9-10) MR. JAKE NORRIS 970-370-6681

Course Load Requirements

Full time students at Fort Morgan High School are expected to carry a full schedule and be enrolled in a minimum of five academic classes. Honors Pass and/or Teacher’s Assistant does not count as one of the five academic classes. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by Fort Morgan High School Administration.

If a senior has all credits and is on track to graduate, s/he may submit a letter to the principal requesting a shortened schedule due to extenuating circumstances. The letter must explain why a shortened schedule is being requested. Upon approval by the principal the student will work with his/her counselor to draft a schedule that reflects the student’s request, within reason. Students participating in extracurricular athletics or activities must take a minimum of five classes to be eligible to participate.

Scholarship, admissions, and hiring committees look at the rigor of the class load of seniors during their second semester to determine who is most likely to follow through and succeed. Your high school transcript, including your choices about your course load, can reflect positively or negatively when applying for scholarships, programs, and jobs. We highly recommend taking a full class load, with a balance of rigorous courses, to reflect your efforts in receiving the best education possible and your dedication towards that goal.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate and receive a diploma from Fort Morgan High School, students must complete the following:

• Attend classes regularly in compliance with district attendance policies.
• Complete 48 semester credits.
• Demonstrate College and Career Readiness (CCR).
• Choose a Graduation Pathway.

Menu of College and Career-Ready Demonstrations:

Accuplacer: 

Classic	Reading, Writing and Communicating 62 on Reading Comprehension or 70 on Sentence Skills	Mathematics  61 on Elementary Algebra	The Accuplacer is computerized test that accesses reading, writing, math, and computer skills. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with a student's academic background, goals and interests, are used by academic advisors and counselors to place students in college courses that match their skill levels.
Next Generation	Reading, Writing and Communicating 241 on Reading or 236 on Sentence Writings	Mathematics 255 on Arithmetic (AR) or  230 on Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)

 

ACT:

Reading, Writing and Communications 18 on ACT English	Mathematics 19 on ACT Math	ACT is a national college admissions exam. It measures four subjects - English, reading, math, and science. The highest possible score for each subject is 36.

 

ACT-WorkKeys: 

Reading, Writing, Communicating, and Mathematics Bronze or higher (a score of at least 3 in all three assessments)

ACT - WorkKeys is an assessment that tests students' job skills.  Scores are based on job profiles that help employers select, hire, train, develop and retain a high-performance workforce. Students must score at the bronze level (a score of at least 3) in all three assessments – Applies Mathematics, Graphic Literacy and Workplace Documents – and they will earn the ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate.

 

Advanced Placement: 

Reading, Writing and Communicating 2	Mathematics 2	AP exams test students’ ability to perform at a college level. Districts choose which AP exams with fulfill this menu option. Scores range from 1 to 5 (highest).

 

ASVAB:

Reading, Writing, Communicating, and Mathematics 31 on the AFQT	The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a comprehensive test that helps determine students’ eligibility and suitability for careers in the military. Students who score at least 31 on the AFQT are eligible for service (along with other standards that include physical condition and personal conduct). Students who take the ASVAB are not required to enlist in the military.

 

Concurrent Enrollment:

Reading, Writing and Communicating Passing grade per district and higher education policy.	Mathematics Passing grade per district and higher education policy.	Concurrent Enrollment provides students the opportunity to enroll in postsecondary courses, simultaneously earning high school and college credit. School districts and institutions of higher education each determined passing grades for credit and concurrent enrollment. An eligible concurrent enrollment course is 1) the prerequisite directly prior to a credit-bearing course or 2) a credit- bearing course, and 3) governed by adistrict-level cooperative agreement or MOU. Districts choose which courses will fulfill the option.

 

District Capstone Project:

Reading, Writing and Communicating Individualized	Mathematics Individualized	District Capstone Project is the culminating exhibition of a student’s project or experience that demonstrates academic and intellectual learning. Capstone projects are district determined and often include a portfolio of a students’ best work.

 

Industry Certificate: 

Reading, Writing and Communicating  Individualized	Mathematics Individualized	Industry Certificates are credentials recognized by business and industry. They are district determined, measure a student’s competency in an occupation, and they validate a knowledge base and skills that show mastery in a particular industry.

 

SAT:

Reading, Writing and Communicating 470	Mathematics 500	SAT is a college entrance exam. The SAT includes sections on reading, writing and math. The highest possible score for each section is 800.

 

Fort Morgan High School Graduation Pathways

Effective with the graduating class of 2024, graduation from Fort Morgan High School requires a completion of a minimum of forty-eight (48) credits and meeting one of the Colorado Department of Education Menu of Options criteria. Graduation Pathways are designed to give each student a well-balanced and comprehensive high school education informed by their interests and post-secondary goals. Classes, when carefully selected, will help students explore their own interests and develop abilities to support a successful transition to life after high school. All students will start in the Career Options pathway. Through advisory activities, and conversations with advisors, counselors, and homes, students will plan and declare a pathway prior to their junior year.

• Career Now – intended for students who have specific academic requirements and need additional guidance for their course of study; students may earn a professional certification upon graduation.
• Career Options – intended for students with goals and plans to obtain a 2- or 4-year degree or professional certification.
• Career Plus - intended for students with goals and plans to obtain a 4-year or advance.

 

Early Graduation

See FMHS Student Registration Guide for information on how to qualify for early graduation.

Honor Pass

Any junior or senior who:

• has a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and/or has perfect attendance with no tardiness and/or no behaviors or concerns for the previous semester.
• has passed all courses in the previous semester.
• is enrolled in appropriately rigorous coursework in the four core areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

May elect to have an Honors Pass as his/her schedule allows. No student will have more than one Honors Pass per semester. The
privilege may be revoked at any time if abused. Speak with your counselor if you qualify and are interested in this opportunity.

Independent Study Contract

See the FMHS Student Registration Guide for information on independent study contracts.

Schedule Changes

Students and parents should review schedules carefully. Adding and dropping classes will be allowed until the 3rd school day of each semester. There is NO guarantee that a student’s request to change his/her schedule will be granted. Counselors and administration will review individual cases in the event of serious extenuating circumstances, i.e., improper placement, or compelling academic reasons for change. Exceptions may be made in extenuating circumstances by an administrator.

Transcript Requests and Fees

You can request official transcripts for colleges, scholarships, and NCAA. You must submit your request to the registrar in the Counseling Center two weeks before the deadline. Transcripts will be sent electronically or through the mail. It is your responsibility to follow through with the receiving entity to make sure they have received your transcript. Institutions can take up to three weeks to process receipt of transcripts. No charges for transcripts while you are in high school. A $5.00 fee will be charged per transcript once you graduate from FMHS.

Academic Transcript Maintenance by FMHS shall contain the following student information: Semester grades, Immunization Information, Student Pictures, Place and Date of Birth, Guardian Information, and Dates of Attendance. Student refusals to participate in the FMHS testing program are also noted.

Transfers & Withdrawals 

Students who are going to transfer or withdraw from school should start the withdrawal process in the Counseling Center prior to their last day of school. Parents must come into the Counseling Center to sign their student out of school. On the day of withdrawal, students must turn in all necessary books and materials after which time an exit interview will be conducted by the Counseling Staff. Students should be certain that all fines are paid at the time of withdrawal. When students transfer to a new school in mid semester, they will normally be enrolled with a schedule that will allow them to complete the courses they were taking at their previous school. However, if comparable courses are not available at the new school, the students may not receive credit for those courses where no match could be found. Students transferring into Fort Morgan High School with less than four weeks remaining in the semester should plan to make arrangements to receive semester credit from their previous school for those courses that could not be taken at Fort Morgan High School. Students transferring from Fort Morgan High School with four or fewer weeks remaining in the semester may receive credit from Fort Morgan High School if the requirements for the course can be met.

Students, who voluntarily withdraw, may be re-admitted with conditions for readmission set by Fort Morgan High School Administration. Students who have been expelled or suspended for the duration of the semester will not have an opportunity to enroll before the following semester. In this case, conditions for readmission to Fort Morgan High School will be determined by the Superintendent.

Weighted Courses

See FMHS Student Registration Guide for information on weighted courses.