College & Career-Readiness

The Twin Cities Academy Counseling Program helps students find and work toward their future paths. Through career exploration activities and assessments, practice college entrance exams, college exposure activities, and personalized assistance with the college application process, students receive the support they need to make informed decisions about careers and higher education.

College and Career Planning

Students receive guidance on college and career planning throughout their high school careers. Additional opportunities for more information:

• AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is an academic elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success, and it is scheduled during the regular school day as a year-long course. Each week, students receive instruction that utilizes a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum provided by AVID Center, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, and academic success skills. In AVID, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to support their academic growth. Additionally, students engage in activities centered around exploring college and career opportunities and their own agency.

• Seniors will be added to a senior schoology group where information about important dates, scholarship opportunities, and more will be shared throughout the school year.

• FAFSA Night Learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Get help filling out and completing the FAFSA application from the school counselor. This event will usually take place December/ January.

• Schedule a meeting with the counselor – Families are welcome to set up a meeting with the school counselor to talk about their individual student’s post-high school plan.

Naviance College Planning

Twin Cities Academy’s mission is to help students find the right fit to post-secondary options. We do this with the assistance of The Naviance Program, an online tool for college preparation. All TCA students have access to Naviance using their school email.

• Students and their families determine student learning style, and career interests, access information from numerous colleges and universities, coordinate the college application process, scholarships and more.

• Users track their college journey in partnership with the school counselor, who assists the students and parents to use the program.

Access the Naviance College Planning site here.  <–Login using student’s school email and school email password. If you get an error then log into gmail.com first and then try the link again.

For more information about Naviance, please visit their website at www.naviance.com.

ACT and SAT Information

All 11th grade students take the ACT at the school in March/ April of every school year for free.

Students should plan on taking the ACT more than once in their Junior year of high school. To register for the ACT click here. Students must create an online account and register for the tests. Students do not need to register for the April test at TCA, but they do need to register for any other test that they want to take. If you qualify for free and reduced lunch please see the school counselor to get a fee waiver, which will make the ACT test free.

If students are interested in taking the SAT they can click here to register. If you qualify for free and reduced lunch please see the school counselor to get a fee waiver, which will make the SAT test free.