The guidance department is made up of a Director of Guidance (Greg LaCroix), a Guidance Counselor (Kim Hill), a Student Assistance Counselor (Tim Trevithick 4 days a week), and a Registrar (Kellee Carman). We work closely with the Director of Enrollment and First Year Students (Linda Barnes) to facilitate the transition to Rice for new students. Each student is assigned a guidance counselor for the year. Counselors are available to all students for personal issues, academic planning and support, career awareness and college planning, and college application support. Parents frequently reach out to guidance staff for consultation and assistance with these various areas as well.

All freshmen participate in the freshman Foundations for Learning course with the goal of teaching new students the learning skills, technology fundamentals, and personal management qualities they will need in order to be successful in high school. The students rotate through the following areas of skill development; Information Literacy, Word Processing, Study Skills, and Drug/Alcohol Health Education.

 

Historically about 90% of Rice graduates move onto four-year colleges. The college search, selection, and application process is therefore the primary focus of post-secondary planning. The process begins with sophomores and continues on into the senior year. Counselors are available to work with students and parents on refining career interests, developing college lists, and the details of the college application process. Some of the components of the three-year program are as follows:

 

All sophomores are administered the PLAN, an introduction to the ACT (a college entrance test) and a career interest survey. This serves as an important tool in career planning for all students.

 

All juniors are administered the PSAT, an introduction to the SAT (the other college entrance test) in the fall. It is also the only qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship program. They also attend post-secondary planning sessions during the spring of this year. College visits and a first round of the SAT’s or ACT’s (or both in some cases) also are key steps in the junior year.

 

All seniors are assisted with post-secondary planning. For most, this involves a dedication to navigating the college application, scholarship searches, and final decision-making.