Academics

Academic & College Counseling

Academic and College Counselors help students become more aware of their gifts and interests as they make academic and vocational plans beyond High School. This process includes parents as they, too, prepare for a new phase of life, and a new role in their child’s education. The college application process can be daunting, and yet CCS counselors make it manageable by helping students meet various deadlines, prioritize tasks, and gain facility with college and common applications. Each student works with the same counselor throughout Middle School, and then a new counselor establishes a relationship with the student for the High School years (9-12).

Working together in an ongoing relationship allows the counselor to better understand the student’s strengths and needs, while helping the student feel supported across the entire school experience—not just when college looms on the horizon.

How We Serve Students and Families

Student Advising and Academic Planning

We work with students on course selection, monitor progress toward graduation, and walk through the college admissions process.

Navigating the College Application Process

We begin working with students in 8th grade and continue through 12th grade, providing support for all aspects of the student’s college planning and application process. We encourage the ACT online prep course; offer English, math, science prep sessions; and provide special oversight for seniors as they wade through the details of the college and scholarship application processes.

College Counseling

College Counselors provide college planning support by asking questions, listening attentively, and following up with students with recommendations and suggestions. We support all aspects of the student's college search and planning process, including helping students gain clarity about God’s call on their lives, focusing attention on individual students’ gifts and interests, and assisting students as they navigate the process of self-discovery.

Visiting College Admission Counselors

Nearly 100 admission counselors visit for college fairs and private admission counselor visits because we maintain connections with college reps across the country.

Academic Plan of Studies

The Upper School (6-12) Plan of Studies is designed to guide students in identifying and understanding their strengths and callings, through the use of a variety of career and interest planning tools, in the context of their relationship with a College Counselor.

List of 7 items.

Grade 6: A Time of Change: Who Am I?

Academic Counselors provide transitional support for 6th graders, engaging them throughout the year in social skills training, life skills activities, and leadership development opportunities.
Grade 7: Social Skills Development: What Does It Mean to Live in Community?

Academic Counselors encourage students to notice and wonder about the communities in which they live. Students learn to utlilize God-given gifts in order to find new and creative ways to love one’s neighbor.
Grade 8: Transitioning to Young Adults: How Will I Serve Others and the World Around Me?

Academic and College Counselors meet with 8th grade students and parents to provide counsel and direction and to develop a four-year plan of studies that leads to a high school diploma. Students begin the process of self-discovery as it pertains to college and career, taking the Career Key Assessment and using the results to explore a variety of career information, related majors, and pertinent college search activities.
Grade 9: Foundations: How Do I Learn?
During the 9th grade year, freshman build their four-year course plan in Naviance and engage in the following activities:
- Complete a Learning Styles Inventory
- Review Learning Styles results with small, counselor-led group
- Consider individual learning preferences that can facilitate successful academic progress
- Begin resume building and engage in self-growth opportunities
Grade 10: Purposeful Introspection: What Are My Strengths?
In 10th grade, students become increasingly purposeful in exploring their strengths and interests by engaging in the following activities:
- Take Strengths Explorer on Naviance
- Review results with an Academic and College Counselor to affirm strengths and to identify potential blind spots
- Take the PSAT (Pre-SAT) and Aspire (Pre-ACT) in the fall (administered at CCS)
- Continue to build resume list of 9th and 10th grade activities
- Visit with several of the nearly 100 college representatives that visit CCS each year
Grade 11: Navigating Opportunities: How Do My Strengths Inform My College and Career Decisions?
Eleventh grade students are given ample opportunity to continue in purposeful self-discovery while learning how to navigate the college and career planning process. They:
- Complete the Career Interest Profiler
- Complete the Do What You Are assessment (Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory) and follow-up with an Academic and College Counselor to review results
- Continue discussions with Academic and College Counselors and faculty about academic strengths, co-curricular activities, and personal attributes
- Take the ACT and/or SAT
- Meet with the College Counselor to review student transcript, discuss college search plan, and confer regarding the specifics of the application process
- Pursue volunteer, shadowing, or work experiences
- Visit and research colleges
- Meet with several of the nearly 100 college representatives who visit CCS each year
Grade 12: Discernment: To What and Where Am I Called?
It is not uncommon for seniors to experience a myriad of emotions in response to impending changes. CCS College Counselors provide a framework for a smooth application process with the hope of minimizing seniors’ (and parents’) anxiety about the process. Seniors:
- Begin the application process in the summer before senior year, noting deadlines, narrowing choices, becoming familiar with application checklists, and writing essays
- Discuss details of the college application process with the College Counselor
- Request letters of recommendation (if required) by September 1
- Aim to complete all college applications by October 15
- Become familiar with and meet the various scholarship application deadlines
- Submit the FAFSA between October 1 and January 15

Trish Cone, Alumni Parent

As a teacher and a parent who has helped my own 5 children graduate from various high schools in the Southeast (my youngest from CCS in 2018), I can wholeheartedly say that the CCS Academic and College Counseling Office goes beyond the call of duty to help and support students—more so than any of the other schools I had previously encountered. Never before had I experienced such care, starting even when my son arrived in the ninth grade. Each student receives individual help from the aspect of their own unique situation. Due to the support of this department, I experienced my son successfully overcome each hurdle confidently on his way to West Point.