School Counselor- Zakira Cruz
zakiracruz@ccs.k12.nc.us

Professional school counselors are certified/licensed educators with a minimum of a Master’s degree in school counseling making them uniquely qualified to address students’ cognitive, socio-emotional and career development needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. They also provide consultation, individual and group counseling, academic advisement. In addition, they provide prevention, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution.

College Board SAT Information:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat

The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity.

Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education.

Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.

Financial Aid/Scholarship Information:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships

Grants and scholarships are often called “gift aid” because they are free money—financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid. Grants are often need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based.

College Foundation of North Carolina:
https://www.cfnc.org/index.jsp

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is a free service of the State of North Carolina provided by a collaboration of Pathways (the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Community College System, the N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities and The University of North Carolina System), the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, and College Foundation, Inc. CFNC promotes access to North Carolina higher education and assists students with education planning, career planning, and applying and paying for college.

American College Testing (ACT) Information:
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html

ACT Academy is a free online learning tool and test practice program designed to help you get the best score possible on the ACT test, and well on your way to college and career success.

Next Step U Information:
https://www.nextstepu.com/

NextStepU.com is a personalized resource for students, parents and counselors to find information about pursuing a career, joining the military, applying to and attending a two-year or four-year college or university and developing essential life skills. We strive to be a guide that will provide the essential tools to get students from where they are to where they want to be. We aim for you to get to your destination and succeed in whatever your next step may be!

N.C. Department of Labor Information:
https://www.labor.nc.gov/

The N.C. Department of Labor’s mission is to foster a safe, healthy, fair and productive North Carolina by: Providing responsive, effective and efficient services, Providing and encouraging quality education and training, Administering consistently and fairly our regulatory mandates, Enhancing public confidence in the Department of Labor.

The Common Application:
http://www.commonapp.org/

The Common Application is a not-for-profit, member organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process.

North Carolina Virtual Public School Information:

Through online, blended, and mobile courses from NCVPS, students are discovering the “virtual advantage” that will prepare them for college and career. NCVPS faculty and staff will be with you every step of the way.

In just a few short years, NCVPS has grown to become the second-largest virtual school in the country, surpassing a number of schools that have been around longer.

https://ncvps.org/