Counseling Department
Franklin Community High School
Our mission is to ensure that every student has the resources and skills necessary to succeed in life after high school, whether that be post-secondary education, workforce or military plans.
Our counselors provide:
Academic Services – Assisting students to succeed in their academic studies and prepare for academic success at the next level
Career Services – Helping students become aware of, explore, plan and prepare for careers.
Social/Emotional Services – Working to remove the obstacles to learning, including mental health support, teaching positive coping skills, problem-solving and providing an empathetic mindset.
STAFFWhat to Know
Academic Planning
Academic advising is an important step in the education process. It is a chance for counselors, faculty, parents and other caring adults to partner with students in a discovery process. Successful academic advising encourages students to take ownership of their academic journey by:
- Exploring dreams and passion areas.
- Considering individual learning styles – highlighting strengths and opportunities
- Identifying short-term and long-term goals and the accompanying academic plans.
- Learning about available programs, courses and opportunities.
- Developing successful time management, organization, and study skills.
Your school counselor can also assist with providing tutoring lists, inquiries regarding academic supports and resources like honors courses or exceptional learners, opportunities for internships or general tips for success in the classroom. Please contact your counselor for more information.
Counselors visit classes beginning in February to begin the scheduling process with students. Counselors will then have individual meetings with students, starting with juniors, to finalize their schedule for their next school year.
All students are required to complete Graduation Pathways to earn a high school diploma. For more information on the Graduation Pathways requirements click here.
Our counselors meet with students individually between January and March each year. This time allows the student to discuss diploma requirements and next year's class schedule with his/her counselor. Scheduling papers are given to the students before the counselor meeting so that parents can be an active part of the scheduling decision.
FCHS offers many opportunities for students to earn both high school and college credits while taking certain courses. These dual credit courses are taught by FCHS faculty and take place in our building. Each college/university has specific requirements that students must meet to qualify to earn college credits. There are also prerequisites to be admitted into the course.
Dual credits may transfer to your college or university as elective credits in some cases, which may require you to take the same course again after high school.
FCHS offers dual credit courses from Ivy Tech and Indiana University. In addition, students can take in-person college courses at Ivy Tech, Franklin College and, in some cases, Indiana Univerrsity-Indianapolis. If you are interested in taking in-person college classes, contact your school counselor.
For a list of all the FCHS dual credit courses, click here.
Click on the university's name to see how your current FCHS dual credit courses will transfer:
Butler
Indiana
Indianapolis (UIndy)
Purdue
Southern Indiana
Students must send Ivy Tech or IU transcripts to the college they will be attending to get the dual credit. FCHS does not have access to those transcripts.
Franklin Community High School has partnered with Indiana University to offer the Indiana College Core to FCHS students.
NCAA
These universities/colleges are broken down into three divisions. Usually, the larger schools are Division I in athletics and include Indiana University, Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana State and Ball State. Some smaller colleges like Butler, Valparaiso and Evansville compete at a Division I level in some sports and at a lower level in some others. Division I members are allowed to give up to a full athletic scholarship to prospective student-athletes.
Division II includes colleges such as the University of Indianapolis here locally. Division II colleges can also give up to a full athletic scholarship but usually give a percentage of tuition like 50 percent for example. Division III colleges are usually the smaller private schools like Franklin, Hanover, Wabash, Depauw and Rose-Hulman. Division III colleges do not give athletic scholarships but will work with their financial aid office to put together a package to help defray the costs.
NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
NCAA Eligibility Process
To register with the eligibility center, you must complete the Student Release Form and amateurism questionnaire at the beginning of your junior year online and send the eligibility center the registration fee ($50 for domestic and $75 for international students). This Student Release Form does two things:
- It authorizes each high school you have attended to send the eligibility center your transcript, test scores, proof of graduation and other necessary academic information.
- It authorizes the eligibility center to send your academic information to all colleges that request your eligibility status.
The only method is to register online at the NCAA Eligibility Center. Select Prospective Student-Athletes and then register as a U.S. or international student. Complete the Student Release Form online and include your credit or debit card information to pay the fee. Then follow the instructions to complete the transaction. Print a copy of your completed registration form and both Copy 1 and Copy 2 of the Transcript Release Form. Sign the Transcript Release Forms and give both to your high school guidance office.
Eligibility Requirements
NCAA Division I
If you enroll in a Division I college and want to participate in athletics or receive an athletic scholarship during your first year, you must:
- Graduate from high school.
- Complete these 16 core courses:
4 years of English
3 years of math (algebra 1 or higher)
2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school)
1 extra year of English, math or natural or physical science
2 years of social science
4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, non doctrinal religion or philosophy).
- Earn a minimum required grade-point average in your core courses.
- Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core course grade-point average and test score sliding scale(see below) (for example, a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 SAT).
NCAA Division II
If you enroll in a Division II college and want to participate in athletics or receive an athletics scholarship during your first year, you must:
- Graduate from high school.
- Complete these 14 core courses:
3 years of English
2 years of math (algebra 1 or higher)
2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school)
2 extra years of English, math or natural or physical science
2 years of social science
3 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy).
- Earn a 2.000 grade-point average or better in your core courses.
- Earn a combined SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.
Note: There is no sliding scale in Division II. Also, Division II will require 16 core courses (similar to NCAA Division I).
NCAA Division III
Division III does not use the NCAA Eligibility Center. Contact your Division III College admission office regarding its policies on admission, financial aid, practice and competition.
Note: Always contact your student’s Guidance Counselor and High School Coach when beginning this process; they will be integral pieces of the recruitment and signing decision.
NAIA (National Association of Inter-Collegiate Athletics)
NAIA Colleges and Universities include Marian College, Grace College, St. Francis (Ft. Wayne) and Bethel College to name a few. NAIA member institutions’ are allowed to give athletic scholarships up to full tuition/room and board.
The NAIA Eligibility Center will determine your eligibility based on your academic record and additional information you provide. Here’s how it works:
High School Students
If you will graduate from high school this spring and enroll in college this coming fall, the requirements are simple. High school graduation, plus two out of three of these requirements:
- Achieve a minimum of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT.
- Achieve a minimum overall high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Graduate in the top half of your high school class.
Early Decisions for High School Seniors
Students who have completed their junior year of high school with an overall 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale, plus the minimum test scores required (18 ACT or 860 SAT), may receive an eligibility decision early in the senior year. To receive an early decision, register with the NAIA Eligibility Center, have your high school send official transcripts to the Eligibility Center and contact ACT or SAT to have their test scores sent directly (the NAIA code is 9876 with ACT and SAT).
What to Know
Central 9 Career Center
Central 9 is our cooperative career center that works with other high schools in the surrounding areas. Central 9 offers hands-on learning and real work experience. Students can enter into high-paying, high-demand jobs or earn a head start on their college degree with numerous programs that offer college credit which can be applied to two and four-year colleges.
For a list of programs including videos describing each program and a program guide, click here.
For more information, you can contact Central 9.
317.888.4401
mcarpenter1@central9.k12.in.us
central9.k12.in.us
College and Career Readiness
American College Testing (ACT)
The ACT is a qualifying test for colleges and universities. The ACT is a qualifying test required for admission to colleges and universities in the state of Indiana and in many schools outside of Indiana. Juniors who wish to make early application to colleges should take the ACT in the spring of their junior year. Students should determine if the college of their choice requires the ACT. Many schools are now making the ACT optional for admissions. This means you may not have to take the SAT or ACT if your GPA is above a 3.0. Make sure to check with the college of your choice before making this decision. Unlike the SAT, the ACT has a science testing component.
To register for the ACT, click here. The FCHS test code is 151175.
Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
The SAT is a qualifying test required for admission to colleges and universities in the state of Indiana and in many schools outside of Indiana. Juniors who wish to make early applications to colleges should take the SAT in the spring of their junior year. Students should determine if the college of their choice requires the SAT. Many schools are now making the SAT optional for admissions. This means you may not have to take the SAT or ACT if your GPA is above 3.0. Make sure to check with the college of your choice before making this decision.
To register for the SAT, click here.
For information about the different test options visit: https://collegereadiness.
SAT Test Preparation
Khan Academy offers a free, fully customized test preparation resource. Visit SATpractice.org for more information. Sylvan Learning is a local organization that offers test preparation courses.
Note
FCHS does not have access to students´ ACT or SAT score reports. You will need to request those to be sent to the colleges/universities of your choice. Students must have an admission ticket and a valid photo ID to be admitted to the testing sites. You will be denied entrance without both of these items.
It is never too early to start planning for college. Here is a guide to help with your college application journey. For a detailed 4 year plan visit our FCHS College Guide. It is highly recommended that students complete all applications by November 1 of their senior year to maximize financial aid and scholarship dollars.
Figure out which colleges you want to apply to. Some things to consider when choosing a college:
- Does it have the major I want?
- Location, location, location.
- Do my AP/ACP/Dual Credit course credits transfer?
- How much does it cost to attend?
- What social activties/athletics/groups are offered?
- Do you want to go to a place where you know a lot of people?
- How likely am I to be admitted?
Narrow your college choices and complete the application process.
You will want to visit or speak with representatives from your schools of choice. To schedule a college visit, go to the school's website or ask your guidance counselor for assistance. If you decide to take a college visit during a school day, you must complete the College Visitation Form before your visit.
Once you have finalized your schools of choice, it is time to start applying. Generally, you can apply one of two ways:
- Common Application - An application database that allows you to simultaneously apply to many colleges/universities throughout the state and nation.
- If your desired school is not on the Common Application, visit the college or university website and follow their application process and request an official transcript to be sent to that college/university through Parchment. For information on how to use Parchment, click here.
The form does not open until October 1 each school year. FCHS partners with various groups to host FAFSA Completion Nights each year. For more information about the application process click here or contact your guidance counselor.
Career planning is an important part of high school. Figuring out a path and planning for it involves determining strengths and interests and finding a career that utilizes both. Here are some tools to help research different career fields.
IndianaCareerExplorer.com - Job search engine that allows students to take career interests and skills assessment and matches them with jobs based on results.
MyNextMove.org - Job search engine that matches careers by keywords, industry or interests and training.
NextLevelJobs.org - Prepares Hoosiers for high-paying, in-demand jobs. Also, it provides training opportunities for those jobs.
TopNotch.org - Indiana Union Construction Industry job site.
For other apprenticeships and/or jobs in the area which you can apply for right out of high school click here.
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Brooklin Whitlock- Vet Assistant at Whiteland Animal Clinic
Heather Dougherty- 4H Youth Development Extension Educator
Heather Tallman- Program Director at Indiana Grown
Sarah Hanson- Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator at the Johnson County Purdue Extension
Nathan Bush- Crop Consultant at Greene Crop Consulting
Architecture and Construction
Jesse Carter- Project Manager for Maddox Industrial Group
Natalie Hollander-Design Studio Consultant-Pyatt Builders
Scott Sanders-VP of Deveoplment-Ambrose Property Group
Erin Fromson-Certified Welding Inspector
Travis Miles- Self-Employed Excavator
Josh Dillon- Operations Manager at Harding Group
Arts, Audio-Visual Technology and Communications
Gordon Cox- Graphic Designer and Owner of Gordon Cox Design
Business Management and Administration
Patrick Maguire- Executive Director of Resource Planning at ACES
Nicole Otte- Director of Workforce Development at Endress+Hauser
Daniel Silverman- Insurance Property Claims Adjuster
Jimmie McMillian - Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Corporate Counsel at Penske CorporationJimmie McMillian - Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Corporate Counsel at Penske Corporation
Amanda Parkhurst- HR Business Partner at Endress + Hauser
Education and Training
Kristin Nelson- Speech Pathologist for Franklin Community Schools
Dr. Shawn Hurst- Lecturer in Biology at the University of Indianapolis
Kristin Owens - Cointinuing Legal Education Director at Indiana State Bar Association
Angel Tarvin- School Psychologist at Northwood Elementary and St. Rose
Lance Marshall- Assistant Athletics Director and Head Baseball Coach at Franklin College
Finance
Deric Roberts- Finance Director at St. Vincent's Hospital
Rod Wead- Senior Business Analyst at IU Health
Eric Skirvin- Life Actuary at Indiana Farm Bureau
Steven Woods- Financial Advisor at Raymond James/NFL Official
Brian Armstrong- Vice President of Trust Accounting at Zeinith American Solutions
JB Curry- Vice President of Market Rate Development at TWG
Government and Public Administration
Joe McGuiness- Commissioner of Indiana Department of Transportation
Doug Cox- Johnson County Sheriff
David Dillon- Cadet at Indiana University Bloomington and in ROTC
Health Science
Bruce Foraker-Lead Program Manager for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Dr. E. David Brown- Gastroenterologist
Morgan Sprecher - Epidemiologist
Anne Maguire- Nurse Practitioner
Patty Whitaker- Medical Quality Consultant for Lilly
Megan Unger- Nuclear Pharmacist at Cardinal Health
Lori Foraker- Clinical Research Coordinator at Duke University Eye Center
Holly Vaught- Optometrist at Vaught Family Eye Care
Andrea Rogers- Health Care Chaplain
Julia Murphy- Registered Nurse at Methodist Hospital
Hospitality and Tourism
Holly Schwab- Regional Revenue Manager at G6 Hospitality
Human Services
Brent Fox- Franklin Campus Pastor at Emmanual Church
Information Technology
Ryan Skirvin- Software Project Manager for Kronos, Inc
Dustin Southard- Network Administrator at Franklin Community Schools
Nick Krestakos-Information Security Senior Advisor
Jason Scott - BIM Coordinator and Detailer at DEEM First
Sarah Steuber- Business Support Specialist at Bastain Solutions
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Joe Dillon- Franklin Police Officer
Joe Maguire- Partner at Norris, Choplin, and Schroeder Law Firm
Manufacturing
Josh Terpak- Rotational Technician at Endress+Hauser
Marketing, Sales and Service
Shawn Murphy- Transportation Sales
Mark Baldridge- Director of Strategic Accounts for Marck Pharmaceutical
Derek Doddridge- Enterprise Account Executive at Emerge
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Matt Hobbs - Civil Engineering
Rick Smith- Duke Energy Large Account Management Executive
Joel Ott- COO and Advisor of Lilly BioMed/Organic Chemist
Miranda Shown- Rotational Tech at Endress + Hauser
Emma Clor- Supervisor of Life Cycle Management at B2S Life Science
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
Financial aid programs help pay the costs of education after high school. If you want to continue your education, but think you can’t afford it, you should apply for financial aid.
Types of Financial Aid
Grants, Scholarships, Student Employment and Loans
Eligibility for most of this aid is determined by filing the FAFSA.
Scholarships are awards that do not need to be paid back and are often called “gift aid.” Grants and scholarships may be based on financial need or on a student’s merit or special talents.
Student employment is money that students work for as part of their financial aid. College Work-Study is an example. Loans are money that you borrow for your education and are considered a type of financial aid. Most loans will have to be paid back with interest.
Indiana Aid
Indiana-Higher Education Grant and Freedom of Choice Grant - These need-based financial aid grants are for Indiana residents at eligible Indiana colleges. File the FAFSA by April 15.- Minority Teacher Scholarship
- Hoosier Scholarship
- Indiana Nursing Scholarship
- Twenty-first Century Scholarship
- Robert Byrd Honors Scholarship
- Special Education Services Scholarship
- Summer State Work-Study Program
- Child of Disabled Veteran Program
Federal Government Aid
Pell Grants
Federal government and college determine eligibility.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients. Your college determines your eligibility.
College Work-Study
Provides a part-time job if you have financial need. The government pays part of your salary; the employer pays the rest. The college determines your eligibility.
Perkins Student Loan
The college determines eligibility. Interest and repayment begin after separation from school.
Stafford, Ford, and PLUS Loan Programs
Issued through the college or a lender. Eligibility determines if the interest and/or the principal is deferred.
Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credit.
Federal income tax credits for college.
Free Application For Federal Student Aid is the form used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid including grants, loans, and work-study. All students should fill out the FAFSA. For more information, please click here.
Financial Aid FAQ
What is the FAFSA?
FAFSA stands for Free Application For Federal Student Aid. It is the form used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid including grants, loans, and work-study.
When can I apply?
If you are a senior in high school, you can begin filling out your FAFSA after January 1st. Priority is given to early filers and some forms of financial aid are on a first come, first serve basis.
Where do I find the FAFSA?
You can locate and complete your FAFSA on the Web. Doing your application online minimizes errors and automatically skips questions that are not relevant to you. You don’t have to be intimidated by all of the information that is requested. The FAFSA is easy to fill out and, in most cases, takes very little time. For assistance filling out the FAFSA, click the “Before Beginning the FAFSA” link on the FAFSA website.
How do I apply for financial aid?
There is a standard procedure your family must follow to apply for financial aid. Notice that this process starts in early January and continues until late August. This process is separate from applying for admission to a college. It may seem complex, but if you take one step at a time, it will be easy.
Where can I go for help?
The financial aid office at the college that interests you, your guidance counselor, and ICPAC Hotline staff can help you. They can tell you what forms to fill out and the steps to follow to get all the financial aid available to you. Follow their instructions carefully. Filling out a form wrong or turning it in late could cause you to lose money.
When do I file the FAFSA?
The Deadline for the FAFSA is April 15.
Be sure to apply as soon as possible after January 1 of your senior year (or the year when you plan to enroll in a college, university, or other school).
We don’t have our tax forms completed yet; should we wait to file the FAFSA until we do?
Completed 1040’s make completing the FAFSA easier, but it is not essential that your 1040 be completed. You are allowed to use estimated information on the FAFSA. If you use estimated information, you will be asked to verify that information later. To ensure you meet the April 15 filing deadline for Indiana, use either estimated or completed 1040 tax information.
Who completes the FAFSA?
The student applicant and the parent(s) with whom the student lives fill out the FAFSA.
What if my parents are divorced, separated, or have remarried?
If your parents are divorced or separated, you and the parent you live with fill out the FAFSA. If you also live with a stepparent, his or her information must be included on the FAFSA.
What should I do after completing my forms?
Make photocopies to keep for your files. Then get a certificate of mailing from the post office when you mail your financial aid application form. This certificate verifies the mailing date and destination of your form.
The Forms
To apply for financial aid you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. You must file this form to be eligible for federal and state aid. You send the FAFSA to the Federal Student Aid Processing Center.
Institutional aid forms
Some colleges require their own forms. After completing these forms, you return them to your college’s financial aid office. Be sure to check with each college you are applying to about financial aid forms and application deadlines.
Supplemental application forms
One common type of supplemental application is the CSS Profile. This form is required by a small number of Indiana colleges.
College can be expensive, so it is important to get as much of it paid for as you can. Financial aid and grants can cover some of it, but you can use scholarships to help pay the rest of the cost.
The Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) has a large amount of scholarships open to FCHS students and Johnson County residents. The application for JCCF Scholarships will become available in January! You can scroll through the scholarships here. There are hard copies of this available in the guidance office as well.
FCHS Master Scholarship List - This is a running list of available scholarships.
Learn More Indiana has a great search engine for scholarships based in Indiana. Indiana College Costs allows you to estimate the costs of attending colleges in Indiana.
After you are admitted to a college/university, you can also search online for the name of your college choice and ¨scholarships for freshmen¨ and you should be able to find scholarships specific to your institution. You will also receive information from your college/university about scholarship and grant opportunities. Even after you begin college, you can continue to apply for and receive scholarships.
Here are more scholarship search sites:
- Earn a Core 40 diploma.
- Have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Complete the Scholar Success Program and pledge.
- File the FAFSA.
- ScholarTrack - Click here to log in to your account.
If you plan on enlisting in the military after high school, you can find the requirements and other information here.
We offer the ASVAB test, but recruiters often want students to take the test through their office as well. For test preparation materials visit this website.
If you need help contacting a recruiter, contact your counselor.