Post Grad News

Some students know what they want to do after high school from an early age; others aren't sure yet—and that's okay. At Legend High School, the Post Grad Center is your hub for planning your future after graduation. Conveniently located off the main hallway, we're here to help students prepare for whatever comes next.

Follow us on Instagram @lhs_postgrad

The Post Grad Center webpage is your go-to resource for all things post-grad! You can find it on the Legend website under the Post Grad Center dropdown, where you’ll find information and resources to help you navigate your plans after high school.

Commonly Asked Questions:

• What is the senior class size? Class of 2027 has 535 students.
• What is my class rank? Legend does Not provide class rank. Select, "School doesn't provide class rank" on the application.

Did you find our recent financial aid information night helpful? Still have questions or want a little extra guidance as you complete the FAFSA application? We've got you covered!

LHS Post Grad is planning our first FAFSA Workshop, open to all Legend students and parents/guardians! A representative from the Colorado State University Financial Aid Office will be here to provide guidance as you walk through your FAFSA application. Bring your laptop and list of questions.

Details are being finalized. Senior parents will receive additional information through Finalsite soon!

The U.S. Department of Education opened the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, on September 23rd, ahead of its anticipated Oct 1st launch date. The earlier college-bound students and their families fill out the form, the better their chances are of receiving aid, largely because some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, or from programs with limited funds.

The Career Technical Education (CTE) Career Expo is an opportunity for students and families to explore the many career pathways available through DCSD. Attendees can connect with CTE programs to learn about careers, hands-on opportunities, and the skills needed for success after high school.

Thursday, November 5

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

DCSD Legacy Campus, Lone Tree

RSVP today!

Looking for a way to earn money while gaining real-world experience? Don’t miss the Earn & Learn Expo. This is your chance to connect directly with employers offering paid apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job training opportunities!

At this event, you’ll also find workshops, potential on-the-spot interviews, and even the chance to start a new career. With that in mind, be sure to bring your resume and come prepared to interview with interested employers.

Date: November 5th

Location: ACC’s Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock

Time: 2:30 pm to 5 pm

Whether you’re exploring career options or ready to jump into a hands-on role, this event is a great way to find your next opportunity. Sign up today!

This event is tailored for prospective students, high school students, and families looking to navigate college affordability. Representatives from Metropolitan State University of Denver will be on-site to provide guidance and answer questions.

Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 10:30 AM until 1:00 PM

CU Denver Student Wellness Center
1355 12th St

Denver, CO 80204

If you plan on attending, you can sign up or let the admissions staff know you'll be there via the official MSU Denver High School Visits Portal.

Legacy Campus is hosting their annual showcase night on Thursday, December 10th. This evening is designed for students and families who are interested in attending Legacy Campus for the 2027-2028 school year. the evening will begin with a registration information session from 6:00-6:30pm and will be followed by an open house to tour spaces, equipment, watch demonstrations, etc.

Date: Thursday, December 10, 2026

Time: Event starts at 6:00 pm

Location: DCSD Legacy Campus; 10035 S Peioria St Lone Tree, CO 80134

More Info: legacycampus.org

Did you know to receive college credit for the ACC courses you’ve taken at Legend, you’ll need to request that ACC send your transcript to the colleges you’ve applied to? ACC offers free electronic transcripts sent to Colorado schools through Parchment from October 20th - November 2nd!

The Free Application Period runs from October 1st - November 30th, 2026. During this time, students can apply online to any of South Dakota’s public colleges and universities without paying an application fee.

Participating institutions include:

• South Dakota School of Mines

• Black Hills State University

• Dakota State University

• Lake Area Technical College

• Mitchell Technical College*

• Northern State University

• South Dakota State University

• Southeast Technical College*

• University of South Dakota

• Western Dakota Technical College (No application fee year-round)

If you’re a Colorado resident graduating from a Colorado high school, the Mines Golden Guarantee gives you a clear pathway to guaranteed admission at Colorado School of Mines. Beginning with students entering Mines in Fall 2027, qualifying Colorado students who apply by the Nov. 1 priority application deadline and meet the academic requirements below will receive:

• Guaranteed admission to Colorado School of Mines
• A minimum $2,000 per year merit scholarship

When you are applying to college directly or through Common App there are many steps that need to be completed. I have listed these steps for you on our Legend website. Please click here to see what is required to fill out Naviance, request a Letter of Recommendation (LOR), and request a transcript.

Requesting Transcripts

No transcripts will be sent over Thanksgiving break as our office is closed (Nov 21st-29th).

Transcripts must be requested through Naviance once you have moved the applicable colleges to “Colleges I’m Applying To.” Once your application has been submitted and payment has been made through MySchoolBucks ($3 per transcript), I will upload your transcript, counselor rec, school report and any completed LORs to the requested school.

Pay attention to the College Admission Deadlines. Once I have received a transcript request there are items that need to be completed on my end. It can take up to three weeks before I am able to send your information.

To receive college credit for the ACC courses you took here at Legend, you must also send an official ACC transcript over to the college directly from ACC.

Letters of Recommendation (LOR):

When requesting a LOR please speak with the teacher in person before requesting it through Naviance. You are responsible for ensuring these get completed timely; please follow up with your teachers to ensure deadlines are met. Letters of Rec that are completed will show "in process" until they are sent to the school. LORs are sent either along with the transcript or after the fact if it was not ready when transcripts were sent.

Transcripts for Scholarships:

No need to purchase transcripts to be sent for scholarship applications. First step is to add the scholarship opportunity in Naviance; this can be done on the "Favorite Scholarships" tab. After adding to Naviance, email Amy Cannode (acannode@dcsdk12.org) with details of where the transcripts should be sent.

I will email your LHS school email if I need clarification or further support from you before sending your transcript. I will not send your transcript until I hear from you.

Students should also check their college email and portal regularly, as colleges use these to share important updates, requirements, and communicate with you if any issues arise.

Make sure you are keeping an eye on your college deadlines. This year, Nov 1st and Nov 15th both fall on a Sunday! If those are your college deadlines; your deadline is actually earlier as the post grad team does not work weekends.

Early Decision plans are binding: A student accepted as an Early Decision applicant Must attend the college.

Early Action plans are nonbinding: Students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal application deadline of May 1st.

Fee Waiver: A fee waiver may be granted to students who demonstrate financial need, allowing them to have certain school-related or college application fees reduced or waived. A fee waiver is different from a college-provided code for a free application. If you have a code or special offer for a free application, do NOT select “Fee Waiver.”

Add colleges to your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” tab in Naviance; then you will receive email notifications when those colleges are visiting. If you would like to attend a visit, you need to sign up in Naviance under the “Colleges Home” tab and you will see the college visits on the lower right hand portion of the page. Visits are held in the Post Grad Office. Attendance is taken at the visits and you will be excused from class while you are at the college visit.

College Visits have been in full swing the past two months with over 60 visits on our calendar but we are not done yet! There are still several college visits scheduled before winter break. Below is a list visits for November and December. These are subject to change so always best to check out the rep visit calendar on the LHS website for accurate information.

November Visits:

• 12/2/26 Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design 9am - 9:45am

Different branches of the military set up a table in the commons during both lunches certain times of the month (holidays excluded). Below is a list when they are scheduled; no registration necessary. Visits held on scheduled school days.

• Air Force: First Tuesday of every month
• Navy: Second Tuesday of every month
• Army: Third Tuesday of every month
• Army National Guard: Third Thursday of every month
• Marines: Fourth Tuesday of every month

I’ve come across a few SAT prep courses that families may find helpful. These resources are not affiliated with or endorsed by the school, but I wanted to share them as options for those looking for additional test preparation.

Khan Academy (Free!) - Maximize your score with free Official Digital SAT® Prep; start by linking your College Board account to your Khan Academy account.

https://www.khanacademy.org/digital-sat

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice/khan-academy

Applerouth (Free!) - Attend Workshops with proven strategies for exam success; Achieve higher AP scores with 2-hour sessions designed to help students earn 4s and 5s. See below link for webinars and practice tests; paid test prep programs are also available through Applerouth.

https://www.applerouth.com/#test-prep

Campus Prep via online or onsite at DU (Cost $195) - This is a 27-hour comprehensive course, including 3 proctored practice exams to help students increase their scores. Course is hosted at the University of Denver and taught by a Harvard graduate. A live online option is also available; families may choose between the in-person and virtual formats.

campusprep.org

https://www.eliteacademics.com/classes/

Visit College Board for registration; Please click here for test dates and registration deadlines.

Remaining 2026 testing dates through College Board:

Nov 7, 2026

Dec 5, 2026

2027 testing dates through College Board:

Mar 6, 2027

May 1, 2027

Jun 5, 2027

Scholarship Opportunities are listed on the LHS website and are updated as they come available. This list is not all encompassing and researching other opportunities is advised.

The college-specific scholarships shown in Naviance is a great resource as you can filter down to the ones you are eligible based on colleges you applied to as well as your specific GPA, SAT scores, ACT scores, etc. This can be found under the Colleges dropdown and "scholarships and money" section.

Several great resources for students and parents include:

DenverFoundation.org

Scholarships.com

AccessScholarships.com

Bigfuture.collegeboard.org

Spend a few minutes exploring the links above as well as researching further on your own.

There are countless opportunities waiting — you just have to take the first step.

COLORADO PROMISE

1. CREATE ACADEMIC PLAN (ICAP)

• Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) and/or Individualized Education Program (IEP) to be completed in Naviance during second semester of your senior year.
• Must complete the ICAP Survey prior to graduation. Within the survey, click on the Send Final Transcript button for your final institution. This is how we will know where to send your transcript after graduation.

2. EARN 24 SCHOOL CREDITS

3. 20 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Document 20 hours of service activity within the Helper Helper app or online at helperhelper.com. Hours are to be accumulated over 4 years at Legend.

4. MATH AND ENGLISH COMPETENCIES

• Students must demonstrate college and career readiness in both Math and English through one of twelve different methods prior to graduation. For menu of options; click here.

Download the Helper Helper App to Track Your Hours

Every student attending a Douglas County School is required to fulfill a 20-hour community service requirement to graduate. Hours must be documented within the Helper Helper App and contact information (email/cell phone) is required for your volunteer coordinator to approve your hours electronically.

Volunteer opportunities are emailed directly to you through Helper Helper as they become available. We also encourage you to seek out volunteer opportunities on your own that match your interests and passions.

How Many Hours do you need to Letter in Community Service?

• 1st Letter: Complete 100 hours and complete the required body of evidence.
• 2nd Letter: Complete 150 hours during the year and complete the body of evidence.
• 3rd Letter: Complete 250 hours during the year and complete the body of evidence.

Lettering in Community Service: Find the correct form for, first year, second year or third year for lettering requirements HERE. Complete and submit the appropriate form with the body of evidence required to Ms Foos. Lettering packets are due for all students by mid March 2027.

• Community Service lettering program at Legend is limited to the current school year of service and is not retroactive to previous school years. Community service hours must be completed between May 30, 2026 and Mid March 2027 to qualify for lettering this year.

• You must be a current, full-time student to letter.

• Lettering hours count towards graduation required community service of 20 hours.

Opportunities will be added as they come across my desk

WIZE COMPUTING ACADEMY Summer 2027 internships available for high school students!

• $20–$25/hour
• Only 8–10 hours/week — fits perfectly with school
• Several Locations:
• Highlands Ranch, Parker, Lone Tree, Englewood, Centennial, Castle Pines, and Castle Rock.
• No coding or robotics experience needed — they train you from A to Z!
• Learn cool tech skills while helping kids
• Build confidence, leadership, and experience that stands out

Interested? Reach out to Dimple Patel at Phone: 515-708-0433 or Email: dimple.patel@wizeacademy.com

Employment, Military, Trade school or College... your opportunities are Endless!

Ellie Murphy; Post Graduate Counselor

emurphy@dcsdk12.org

303-387-4527

Amy Cannode; Post Graduate Admin Assistant

acannode@dcsdk12.org

303-387-4633

August 2026 Newsletter

September 2026 Newsletter