1 of 33

Class of 2026

Senior Night Presentation

2 of 33

Download Tonight’s Senior

Presentation

​

​

​

​

3 of 33

Who is My Counselor?

Jill Mancino A-Bz Grades 9-12

Velma Gonzalez C-Dr Grades 9-12

Bel Portillo Du-Hal Grades 9-12

Rob Alexis Ham-Kem Grades 9-12

Erin Tristan Ken-Maz Grades 9-12

Katy Staggs Mc-Pas Grades 9-12

Tara Edmondson Pat-Ron Grades 9-12

Mindy Smith Roo-Th Grades 9-12

Melody Vest Ti-Z Grades 9-12

​

​

4 of 33

Agenda

01

College:

Where to begin

02

The application process

03

The cost of college

04

Graduation Plan

5 of 33

Foundations High School Plan With Distinguished Level of Achievement

A student may earn a Distinguished Level of Achievement by successfully completing the curriculum requirements for the Foundation High School Program and the curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement required by the Texas Education Code (TEC), 28.025(b-15), including four credits in science and four credits in mathematics to include Algebra II.

DLA is a requirement for Assured Admission

Endorsements

All students must have an endorsement

    • Multidisciplinary (4x4)
    • Arts and Humanities
    • Business and Industry
    • Public Service
    • STEM

​

State Assessment - STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness)

Students must receive a passing score on the following EOC assessments: English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History to qualify for graduation

Graduation Plan

6 of 33

GPA: Weighted and Unweighted

​

Two GPA’s are listed on your transcript:

  • 100 point GPA- an average of your weighted grades (100)

This average WILL include 1.1 and 1.2 multiplied grades for Honors/PAP or AP coursework

​

  • 4 point GPA- unweighted GPA (4.0)

This average WILL NOT include any multiplied grades for Honors/PAP or AP coursework

​

Each course students have taken are listed on their transcript with their fall and spring semester grades plus an average for the year.

*GPA is based off of semester grades not final averages

​

Honors points or bump points from the multiplier for Honors/PAP or AP coursework are not visible on the transcript.

Codes indicate the weight of the course such as

Q- PAP or Honors =1.1

P-AP Coursework =1.2

D-On Ramps =1.2

D-ACC *Not included in GPA

**Link to GPA information in Course Catalog

​

7 of 33

Transcript Review

​

Transcripts can be viewed on Skyward under the Portfolio tab

​

​

​

​

You can review your courses to ensure you have the credits you need for graduation

​

Graduation Credit Evaluation sheet--

8 of 33

Grades and Ranking

  • LTHS is a non-ranking school except for Top 10% as required by State Law. All ranked transcripts are sent electronically.

​

  • DON’T RELEASE RANK--There is no advantage

​

  • Schools with deadlines in the fall or January 1 will likely not see your senior grades for admission but they will see the courses you are enrolled in.

9 of 33

Ranking and GPA

​

Top 5% cut off is 108.2%

​

Top 10 % cut off is 105.9%

​

Top 25% cut off is 100%

10 of 33

Top 10% Student Transcript

11 of 33

Top 10% Student Transcript

Top 25% Student Transcript

12 of 33

Lake Travis Scholar

To receive recognition as a Lake Travis Scholar, a graduating senior must:

1. Complete the Foundation Program with the Distinguished Level of Achievement

2. Earn at least three advanced measures through one of the following means:

    • Scoring a 3 or higher on at least three Advanced Placement (AP) examinations
    • Completing 3 University of Texas OnRamps courses with a university letter grade of C or higher
    • Completing any combination of qualifying AP test scores and OnRamps university grades to meet the three advanced measures requirements.

3. Earn a fourth advanced measure through one of the following means:

    • Completing one or more dual-credit college academic course(s) with a college letter grade of B or higher
    • Completing a fourth UT OnRamps course with a university letter grade of C or higher
    • Scoring 3 or higher on a fourth AP examination
    • Earning a score on the PSAT that qualifies the student for National Merit Scholar, finalist, semifinalist, commended, higher recognition, or National Hispanic Scholar recognition.

4. Maintain an overall weighted numerical grade average of 90.00 or higher.

5. Earn 100 community service hours through the CAVS in Service Program.

​

Link to Lake Travis Scholar in Course Catalog-Click Here

13 of 33

College-

Where to begin

14 of 33

  • North or South – the weather does matter!
    • ​
  • Big City or Rural environment – do you need a mall to be happy? A place to fish or hike?
    • ​
  • Public or Private – a big difference in cost.
    • ​
  • Big School or Small School – what college lifestyle do you want?

​

  • Naviance

Colleges Supermatch College Search

​

​

Make a List of Schools

15 of 33

College and Career Search Websites

​

​

16 of 33

College Visits

  • Students can sign up for all on campus visits through Naviance

NAVIANCE Colleges College Visits

​

  • Students are allowed 2 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

​

  • Students are responsible to get a signed document on college letterhead with their appointment date(s) and time(s).

​

  • Parents are responsible for uploading this document into their student’s attendance portal.

17 of 33

College Application Process

Application

Transcripts

Test Scores

Where to find and how to apply

Linking Common App to Naviance

How to order transcripts from LT

SAT and/or ACT scores

18 of 33

WHAT ARE THE STEPS?

​

    • Common App, Apply Texas, Coalition, or University application
    • Gather all materials before beginning
      • Transcript can be found on Skyward under Portfolio tab
      • Create Resume
      • Assemble Extracurricular activity information
    • Essays and supplemental questions
    • Letters of Recommendation
      • Student Resume
      • Counselor Recommendation Form in Naviance under Tasks
      • Parent Brag Sheet in Naviance under Tasks- students can load parents responses
        • Please give 2+ weeks notice for requesting letters

​

​

19 of 33

College Application Platforms

Go Apply Texas

https://goapplytexas.org/

Public In-State Universities

Recommendation letters cannot be requested or uploaded by teacher/counselor. Students must request letters via email and be mailed US Postal Service.

​

​

Common Application

https://www.commonapp.org/

Private In-State and Private or Public Out-of-State Universities

Convenient way to request and upload recommendation letters from teachers/counselors

​

Coalition

​

​

20 of 33

Ordering Official Transcripts

Current students that need an official transcript to be uploaded to the NCAA portal, please email Lynn Ballard, Registrar. Please include your NCAA ID number and date of birth in your email.

Current and Former Students may order transcripts to be sent to colleges and universities by clicking the button below:

2026 Top 10% Students

If you are in the Top 10% (Top 5% for the University of Texas at Austin) and applying to Texas Public Schools, complete and submit the 2026 Top 10% Google form to request that your student rank be sent with your transcript. Then, place the transcript order on Parchment.

To place your request, create an account and/or login to Parchment.

If you need assistance, watch "How to Order a Transcript with Parchment". Please remember to change your Parchment email address to your personal email address. Here is a video on how to update your email address in Parchment.

Additional Parchment videos can be found on the Parchment YouTube channel.

​

21 of 33

SAT/ACT Scores

Many colleges are test optional, however we do recommend that your student take an SAT or ACT to be able to meet college standards and potential scholarships.

​

If a student doesn’t meet the college standards they will be required to take a entrance exam to make sure that they are ready to take college level classes. In Texas, it's called the Texas Success Initiative. TSI is offered at ACC testing centers.

Below are the scores that students must have:

SAT 480 or higher Reading & Writing

530 or higher Math

ACT

​

​

​

​

​

TSIA 945 or higher ELAR

5 or higher on ELAR Essay

950 or higher in Math

​

You will need to go to the College Board website to send your SAT scores.

For ACT scores, you will need to send them through ACT account.

TSI is done through ACC website.

22 of 33

College App & Naviance Essentials

  • Class Size- 902
  • Class Rank Reporting- NONE
  • GPA scale reporting- 100 point weighted
  • GPA based on semester averages
  • Diploma Type- Foundation High School Program with Distinguished Level of Achievement
  • Once students have their account in Common App, they will go into their Naviance account and Select Colleges category Colleges I am Applying To and select pink box that says Match Accounts- this will link their Naviance to Common App
  • In Naviance students will go to Colleges Letters of Recommendation and there will be a drop down to choose your teacher(s).
  • In Common App under the Invite Recommenders tab they will be able to invite recommenders from outside LT

​

​

​

​

​

23 of 33

My Common Application

24 of 33

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

My Colleges Section

25 of 33

  • Remember under each college there will be sections that must be filled out

​

  • You should have a first choice major and second choice major

​

  • If there IS NOT a red asterisk next to the question, you do not need to answer.

​

  • I will graduate under/My graduation plan: Foundation High School Program with Distinguished Level of Achievement

26 of 33

THE COST OF COLLEGE

​

Applying for

Financial Aid:

FAFSA/TAFSA

Scholarships

27 of 33

FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid

​

School Finance Bill HB3 passed in 2021 which made it a requirement for all high school students to complete the FAFSA or TAFSA prior to graduation.

​

FAFSA

For the 2026-27 school year, you will need to complete the 2026-27 FAFSA form. The FAFSA form for that year is currently in beta testing, with a full rollout expected by October 1, 2025.

Create a FSA ID

  • Both Parent(s) and Student complete an application
    • Prior/Prior year Federal Tax Return
    • Complete a new application each year
    • Foundational for all University Scholarships

​

Why FAFSA? Universities want to use Federal money first, then endowment monies. Also, FAFSA must be complete for student to qualify for university merit scholarships.

​

*****If you choose to Opt Out of filling out the FAFSA here is the form that needs to be filled out and turned in to our counseling office.

Link to Waive FAFSA Application (Opt Out Form - English)

Link to Waive FAFSA Application (Opt Out Form - Spanish)

�

28 of 33

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

​

September 30th, 2025

LTHS Cafeteria

6:00-8:00 pm

​

FAFSA Meeting at LT

29 of 33

Scholarships

(Local, State and Federal)

​

​

Lake Travis Local Scholarships will all be listed on Naviance

(Beginning in January)

Examples of Local Scholarships:

  • Lake Travis Education Foundation
  • The Rotary Club of Lakeway
  • Friends of the Lakeway Community Library

​

Current Scholarship searches available in Naviance

Naviance- Colleges-National Scholarship Search

​

*Colleges will also offer scholarships based on merit and need.

​

30 of 33

Texas Tech University

31 of 33

University of Arkansas

New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award Scholarship

​

32 of 33

Senior Year

✔ College Visits (2 per year)

✔ Meet with College Reps on our campus- Students can sign up through

Naviance

✔ Transcript Request through Parchment

✔ If needed, ask teacher/counselor for rec. letters

(provide 2-weeks notice)

✔ Review essay(s) and supplementals

✔ SRAR: Self-Reported Academic Record (TAMU)

✔ Submit college applications before or by 12/1,

to meet early deadlines

Honor College Deadlines may be earlier

✔ FAFSA–Set up Student ID- can be done now

Application will open OCTOBER 1, 2025

✔ Scholarship Bulletin

✔ Complete and submit scholarship applications

​

​

​

Review of Application Process

33 of 33

Thank you!