College and Career Readiness

Upcoming Events:

Enroll, Enlist, Employ

Our mission is to empower each child to write their own story of success and prepare them to pursue and realize their unique purpose academically and socially.

Staying true to our mission, the counseling and navigator staff at NCCHS works with schools and other organizations to help all North Chicago High School students develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed after high school, regardless of their chosen path. These pathways include:

  • Enroll: Prepare academically and financially for college or other post-secondary education, such as trade school.

  • Enlist: Be ready for a career with the military and understand the pathways to get there.

  • Employ: Be ready for full-time employment after high school, which provides meaningful employment and a living wage.

Click the button below to learn more about each post-secondary option

ENROLL
ENLIST
EMPLOY
View our School Profile!

Standardized Tests

Many colleges and universities ask students to submit scores from standardized tests. Learn more about standardized tests here.

How will D187 support my student?

PaCE Framework: As a district, we are committed to helping your students achieve their post-secondary goals. Using the PaCE Framework, the counseling and navigator team will work with students and families to create an individualized learning plan for each student. This plan will help them make decisions about career and post-secondary (PS) education or training, plan a course of study, and make financial aid assessments.

The PaCE Framework provides guidance to students, families, and educators on what types of experiences and information students should have to make the most informed decisions about college and career planning at every grade level, beginning in 6th grade and continuing through high school.

The following NCCHS chart explains what students should know about post-secondary planning at the end of grades 9-12.

Postsecondary & Career Expectations

Each student should have an individualized learning plan to help make decisions about career and post-secondary (PS) education or training, to plan a course of study, and to make financial aid assessments with family members.

We're here to help!

Postsecondary Coordinator
Ms. Kim Forystek
kforystek@d187.org
847-775-1652

Freshman Academy Counselor (2028)
Ms. Allissa Pollack
apollack@d187.org

Class of 2027
Robert Doody
rdoody@d187.org
847-775-1654

Class of 2026
Megan Hershman
mhershman@d187.org
847-775-1737

Class of 2025
Abby Polonsky
apolonsky@d187.org
847-775-1653

College and Career Navigators
Ms.Elizabeth Melendez
College Navigator
elimelendez@d187.org
847-775-1660

College and Career Navigators
Trendelle Vaughn
tvaughn@d187.org
847-775-1663

CLC College & Career Navigator
Araceli Mena
amena@d187.org
847-543-2793

Work Study Lead
Jeffrey Hollenstein
jhollenstein@d187.org
847-775-1629


Postsecondary

Xello

Xello

Xello

Xello: Xello is an internal platform for students grades 6-12 linked to PowerSchool and accessible to students and staff. Xello provides students with resources and organization around college and career readiness that will allow them to: 

  • Conduct college and career research

  • Build a resume and portfolio

  • Use assessments to identify strengths and values that will lead them on their career path.

View instructions on how students login to their Xello account (PDF)

 Illinois College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRIs): D187 also uses indicators and standards to assess student college and career readiness adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Learn more about the CCRIs (PDF)

ISAC

ISAC

FREE ISAC webinar

FREE ISAC webinar series designed to help you prepare for college!

These webinars will cover crucial topics like:

  • Different types of admissions

  • Using the Common App

  • Getting your academic records ready

The webinars are available in English and Spanish!

Don't miss this chance to learn from experts and get your college prep questions answered LIVE.

How to participate:

Head over to the ISAC YouTube channel: Link to ISAC's YouTube channel or website

Subscribe to the channel for live-stream notifications!

FAFSA (Federal Student Aid)

FAFSA

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)

Planning for college? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is a crucial step in securing financial aid for your education. To complete the FAFSA®, you'll need an FSA ID.

This guide will show you how to create your FSA ID username and password:

What You'll Need:

  • Social Security Number

  • Date of Birth

  • Valid Email Address (Optional, but recommended)

  • Mobile Phone Number (Optional, but recommended)

Steps:

  1. Visit the FSA ID website: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/fsa-id

  2. Click on "Create an Account".

  3. Enter the requested information accurately.

  4. Username Creation: Choose a username that's easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess. It can be anything you like, but avoid using personal information like your name or birthday. The system will let you know if it's available.

  5. Password Creation: Create a strong password that's at least 8 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your name, birthday, social security number, or any part of your username in your password.

  6. Email Address: Entering your email address is optional, but highly recommended. However, be aware that receiving the verification code via email might take a while. You can refresh the page periodically to check for the email (it will come from the U.S. Department of Education).

  7. Verification Options: Choose "By Email" for both verification methods.

  8. Challenge Questions: Select four challenge questions and provide memorable answers. These questions will help you recover your account information if you forget your username or password.

  9. Review and Save: Carefully review all the information you entered. Make sure there are no typos, especially in your email address and phone number.

  10. Once everything looks good, proceed to save and verify your information. The system will provide codes for verification.

Important Note:

  • Each parent applying for financial aid with you will need to create their own separate FSA ID using their own email address and phone number.

Congratulations! You've successfully created your FSA ID. Now you're ready to tackle the FAFSA® and unlock financial aid opportunities for your college dream.

Additional Resources: