College and Career Resources for High School Students

Pursue a Career with Confidence

It's never too early to begin thinking and planning for life beyond high school.

Create a Plan

Individual Graduation Plan

The student begins their Individual Growth Plan in the 8th grade.

The plan guides course and pathway selection, supports educational and career exploration, informs secondary and postsecondary decisions, and documents graduation requirement completion.

A student’s IGP is reviewed, updated, and signed annually--from middle school through graduation.

Individual Growth Plan - fillable form
Guidance for Individual Gradual Planning

Legislative Youth Advisory Council

Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC)

"Empowering Youth, Developing Leaders"

LYAC Application and Information

The Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is a body created by state law which is composed entirely of high school students with an interest in representing the voices of young people across the state. It opens the line of communication between youth and the legislature and gives students the opportunity to be involved in the workings of government. The thirty-one student members are appointed each year, three from each of the state's congressional districts and the remaining members at large. The Louisiana Commission on Civic Education oversees the work of LYAC and selects its membership.

The purpose of LYAC is to facilitate the communication between youth and the legislature, and to give students a unique opportunity to be involved in the workings of state government. The council studies and addresses a variety of issues of importance to young people such as education, mental health, civic engagement, the environment, and school safety.

Members of the council are selected from a wide pool of statewide applicants who display a strong interest in civic involvement. The thirty-one-member council includes three students representing each of the six congressional districts and the remaining members serve at large. Applicants must be between the ages of fourteen and nineteen and enrolled in a public or private high school, charter school, home school, or GED skills program during the school year.

Available spots are limited, so students are encouraged to apply early. The application may be accessed at civiced.louisiana.gov and then by clicking on LYAC at the top of the page. All applicants are required to submit two recommendation letters in addition to the eight short essay questions and application form.

Application, Consent Form, and Letters of Recommendation should be mailed to:
Louisiana Commission on Civic Education c/o Megan Bella Louisiana Senate
PO Box 94183 Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Help with Understanding the Process of Planning

Earn a Diploma

TOPS University Diploma

Taylor Opportunity Program For Students (TOPS) is a program of state merit-based scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, schools that are a part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana approved Proprietary and Cosmetology Schools or institutions that are a part of the Louisiana Assoiation of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Career Diploma - Jump Start Pathway

High School Graduation Dates

Dual Enrollment

Take the ACT

Register for the ACT

ACT Testing Dates

Test Dates

National test dates are for the United States, US territories, and Puerto Rico. If you have missed the late registration deadline for a test date, you may be able to request standby testing.

If you are unable to test on a Saturday test date for religious reasons, there may be options available to you. See Non-Saturday Testing.

All requests for accommodations and English Learner supports, including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system. Accommodations and English learner supports are available for standby testing.

2024-2025 National Test Dates Schedule

Test Date	Regular Registration Deadline Late Fee Applies After This Date	Late Registration Deadline	Photo Upload and Standby Deadline
September 14, 2024	August 9	August 25	September 6
October 26, 2024	September 20	October 7	October 18
December 14, 2024	November 8	November 22	December 6
February 8, 2025	January 3	January 20	January 31
April 5, 2025	February 28	March 16	March 28
June 14, 2025	May 9	May 26	June 6
July 12, 2025*	June 6	June 20	July 4

*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.

Test Information Release for the 2024-2025 testing year will occur in September, December, and February. See www.act.org/the-act/tir for more information.

WorkKeys

ACT Student Resources

Apply for a Scholarship or Grant

TOPS Awards

NCAA Eligibility

To be successful in college, students need to be prepared for college coursework. In Division I and Division II, the NCAA sets academic initial-eligibility standards that take into account GPA, standardized test scores, core courses taken in high school and the grades earned in those core courses. Division III schools hold student-athletes to the same overall standards for the institution in which they’re enrolling.

All student-athletes also must meet the unique acceptance requirements of the college or university they plan to attend (which may exceed NCAA standards).

NCAA Eligibility Center

Scholarship Opportunities

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance - Scholarships & Grants

Apply for Financial Aid

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application is required by the state for funding, including TOPS and other grants for technical schools.

FUNDING MY FUTURE
Most Louisiana high school graduates are eligible for some form of merit or need-based financial aid. Students can apply for state and federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be used at four-year universities, two-year community colleges, and technical training programs. The FAFSA is used to determine the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to the price of attending a postseconday institution, and the results of the FAFSA are used in determining student grants, work study, and educational loan amounts.

When should I fill it out?

Where do I fill it out?

Can I get help with my FAFSA?

Online Support Tools

FAFSA FAQs

For any more information or help regarding the FAFSA, please reach out to your school counselor.

Find the Right Fit

Search and Compare Colleges

LA Specific Career and Employer Info

Star Jobs (will open in new tab) is a searchable data base of Louisiana-specific career and employer information that connects students to Louisiana career opportunities that are high-demand and align to career interests.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission provides a tool for the state of Louisiana to track high-wage, high-demand jobs in Louisiana. Tangipahoa is in the Regional Labor Market Area for Region 2.

High Wage High Demand Jobs

Online Career Planning Tools

My Life My Way and LOSFA’s Unlock My Future are online career planning tools that help students:

Explore and assess career interests
Align academic and career goals

Big Future - Finding colleges and careers that are right for you doesn’t have to be stressful. Sign in for help planning for life after high school.

explore careers
plan for college
info on ways to help pay for college
scholarship information