The intricate collaboration among the Departments of Guidance and Counseling, Advanced Academics, Career and Technical Education (CTE), under the Division of Curriculum and Instruction is key to exceeding our CCMR goals. The first component of the Hays CISD Learner Profile is that learners will be academically prepared for college, career, and life!

Visit Advanced Academics       Visit CTE       Visit Guidance & Counseling

We are focused on ensuring that our students are prepared for a changing and increasingly complex future; to cultivate the knowledge, skills, mindset of a lifelong learner in order to achieve high levels of success while in high school and postsecondary readiness.

AT THE HS CAMPUS LEVEL: each High School College & Career Counselor leads the way and works in collaboration with academic Counselors, Path Advisors, Career and Technical Education (CATE), Advanced Academics, and all other partner organizations and college access programs to create and promote a college-bound culture across all campuses.

Scope & Sequence for College, Career and Life Readiness (6th grade through 12th grade)

We have developed a Scope & Sequence for CCLR to assure that ALL of our Hays CISD students; beginning as early as elementary school and beyond, begin taking steps to explore college and career options so that they reach college and career readiness upon HS graduation.

SCHOOLINKS is a comprehensive college & career exploration and planning platform for all of our 5th through 12th grade students.

“SchooLinks: From educating younger learners about potential careers, helping explore and apply to colleges, or finding that entry level position to jumpstart a career.”

Hays CISD makes SchooLinks available to all of our 5th-12th grade students and parents to support the entire college & career student planning journey! 

STUDENTS can access their SchooLinks account at any time through their single sign-on ClassLink Hays CISD account. Issues signing-in? Please seek the help of your School Counselor or at the HS, your College & Career Counselor can assist you.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS can access their student(s) SchooLinks account through this link app.schoolinks.com/login/member. Since accounts are already created in SchooLinks for parents/guardians, you will follow one of these two options (either sign-in through Google or click "Forgot Password"). 

College Readiness Checklists 2023-2024

• Senior (Grade 12)   En Español: Senior Checklist
• Junior (Grade 11)   En Español: Junior Checklist
• Sophomore (Grade 10)   En Español: Sophomore Checklist
• Freshman (Grade 9)   En Español: Freshman Checklist
• Middle School Action List for CCLR   En Español: Escuela Secundaria (6-8)

Explore Career Opportunities

Explore opportunities based on your interests and work values, match characteristics of your current or most recent occupation with similar occupations, and find specific information such as the fastest growing jobs, levels of education and training requirements, and average salaries.

• Find a major & explore careers on The CollegeBoard’s Big Future
• Launch My Career: launchmycareertx.org
• Get Inspired with GenTX
• Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
• Careers in the Military
• ACT Education & Career Planning

Evaluate Expenses Against Careers

Estimate how much money you need for housing, utilities, transportation, clothes, health care, entertainment and other expenses, and see which careers will pay for these needs.

• Compare careers and expenses using Reality Check

Find and Compare Colleges & Universities

There are many user-friendly and resources available to MS & HS students to help you find and compare college and university programs and costs, as well as compare types of possible financial aid. Here are a few to get you started:

• Compare colleges & universities using College Scorecard
• Explore and compare College Options
• Texas OnCourse

College Applications

• Apply Texas
• Common Application
• Adventures in Education
• NACAC - Breaking Down the Admission Process

Financial Aid

• Get Financial Aid Guidance
• COMPLETE the FAFSA (the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid)

Compare your financial aid packages

• College Board/Big Future
• Savings Calculator
• Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan
• Family Guide to Saving for College

Scholarships

Many scholarship opportunities are available to HS students. While most of these opportunities are available all throughout their SENIOR YEAR, a number of scholarships are also available to students from 10th grade on. Below are some great resources/tools to use in finding scholarships.

• Making the Most of Your Scholarship Search!
• Start earning micro-scholarships (beginning in the 9th grade to be awarded once you attend college)
• College Board Opportunity Scholarships
• Apply for, track, and manage college financial aid using Red Kite

Military/Veterans Legacy Funding for Dependents

• Veteran tuition programs
• Hazlewood Act application

The TSIA2 is designed to measure college readiness skills in the areas of reading, writing and math. If you are a student that is planning to enroll in college level coursework, you may need to take the TSI exam. Some students are EXEMPT from the TSI exam, provided they meet specific criteria. For more information about the TSI, visit: TSIA2.Accuplacer.org and/or CollegeForAllTexans/TSI. Also, feel free to visit with your College & Career Counselor to get more information, available TSI test dates, and how to get free practice materials and access to the TSIA APP.

1. FREE PRACTICE for the TSIA2
2. SAMPLE QUESTIONS: MATH, ELAR, ESSAY
3. Student Informational Brochure
4. Understanding Your Score
5. Overview: Texas Success Initiative

*New passing/cut off scores with the implementation of the new TSIA2 on January 2021*

ELAR College Ready Scores:
CRC 945 - 990 AND Essay 5 - 8
       -or-
CRC 910 - 944 AND Diagnostic Level 5 - 6 AND Essay 5 - 8




Math College Ready Scores:
CRC 950 - 990
       -or-
CRC 910 - 949 AND Diagnostic Level 6