CCR Update
St. Charles East-October 16, 2026
On Thursday, October 22nd, all 11th-grade students are scheduled to take the Digital PSAT/NMSQT during the regular school day. The standard time test will begin 1st period and run through 6th period. Juniors will resume their regular class schedule after testing.
The PSAT/NMSQT consists of the following test sections:
Reading & Writing (64 minutes)
Module 1= 2 pretest & 25 operational for a total of 27 questions; 32 minutes
Module 2= 2 pretest & 25 operational for a total of 27 questions; 32 minutes
Math (70 minutes)
Module 1= 2 pretest and 20 operational for a total of 22 questions; 35 minutes
Module 2= 2 pretest and 20 operational for a total of 22 questions; 35 minutes
All standard-time students will test in the Sports Complex. Students testing with accommodations will be testing in classrooms to be determined. See your emails for additional information and room/section assignments . Please review the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide to help prepare for test day.
P. A. 101-180 requires all Illinois public high school students to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Additionally, high schools are expected to provide students and their families with any support or guidance necessary to comply with the requirement. For students who choose not to file an application, a waiver may be completed by their parent. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) makes available through their website a FAFSA Nonparticipation Form (English and Spanish) for this purpose. Check out our FAFSA Update for more information.
Interested in a career field where people design, build, and maintain products using modern technologies such as robotics, 3D printing, and automation? The Manufacturing Tours may be the field trip for you!
Students will visit two different manufacturing locations on Wednesday, October 21st from 9 AM - 1 PM. Space is limited, so please fill out this Google Form as soon as possible if interested. Please note that completion of the form does not guarantee acceptance to the field trip.
UPDATED LOCATIONS: We are scheduled to visit Smith & Richardson Manufacturing & TRI-PAR.
*Participants should wear long pants and closed toe shoes
Elgin Community College will host 145+ colleges and universities to help students and families explore post-secondary options. All current college, high school, and prospective students are encouraged to attend to discover transfer opportunities. The Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling sponsors this free event with ECC and other local schools.
The fair utilizes StriveScan to make information sharing easier for students. This app-based system is free for students, and registration is encouraged before the fair. Colleges will scan your barcode during the fair to send you more information about their schools. The day after the fair, you will receive a report with information on the colleges with whom you scanned.
Date-Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Time-6 to 8 pm
Location-Main Campus, Building J, Events Center
Need Help Completing the FAFSA?
We are planning a FAFSA Completion Workshop with ISAC that will be scheduled for Thursday, October 29th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please complete this form if you are interested in attending.
The Counselors will be offering workshops in the LRC-East Lab to assist our seniors with their post-secondary planning for college, military, trades, etc. These workshops will run periods 1-12 every Wednesday from September 2nd until October 28th. Seniors are reminded to attend during a free period in their schedule.
SIgn up in SchooLinks:
Log in to your SchooLinks account (https://app.schoolinks.com/).
On the Student Dashboard, click on the Events section to see all upcoming college application workshops.
Click on the date and period of the workshop you want to attend, and then click on the Register for this Event button.
Important information for students who are interested in taking an AP exam but are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course:
Students wishing to take any AP exams for classes in which they are not enrolled must register and pay for the exam no later than Friday, November 6. The fee is $100 per exam and is non-refundable. Registration forms are available here or in the College & Career Office. Once payment is received, you will receive a join code from Mr. Gill to complete your order.
Elgin Community College is offering a series of College & Career events for the fall and spring semesters. Session topics include The Start of College Decisions, Financial Aid 101, Early College Credit options, Professional Etiquette, Discovering Careers, Career Clusters & Opportunities, Successful Interviewing and more. All events are free and open to the public. Events will be held virtually over Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 P.M. unless otherwise noted. For more information and meeting links, please visit https://elgin.edu/community/college-transitions/ccr/upcoming-events/
Upcoming Events:
Money Matters: Financial Confidence for College Students
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 Time: 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm Location: Virtual
Financial confidence begins with understanding how to manage your money wisely. Join us for an informative session designed to help students develop practical financial skills that support success in college and beyond. Participants will learn the fundamentals of budgeting, banking, credit, saving, and managing everyday expenses. The webinar will also explore strategies for making informed financial decisions, avoiding common financial pitfalls, and building healthy money habits that can last a lifetime. Whether you are preparing for college, are currently enrolled, or are planning your next educational step, this session will provide valuable tools and resources to help you take control of your financial future. Guest Speaker: TBD Join us for this installment of the College & Career Success Series, a year-long webinar series designed to help students plan, prepare, and succeed in college, career, and beyond.
Job Shadow Program
The City of St. Charles is offering a career pathway job shadow program to St. Charles high school students interested in exploring a career in municipal government. You may schedule up to three different job shadow experiences per school year, during which you can explore work sites, ask questions, see demonstrations, and learn about education and certifications. Students will be responsible for transportation to and from the City. The date, time, and length of the job shadow will be scheduled outside of school hours directly with the City’s job shadow program coordinator. Please return your completed registration form to Mr. Matt Gill in the College & Career Office.
College Visit Sign-up in SchooLinks
Log in to your SchooLinks account (https://app.schoolinks.com/).
On the Student Dashboard, click on the School Events section to see all upcoming college visits.
Click on the name of the visit you want to attend, and then click on the Register for this Event button.
Before attending the visit, make sure you pick up a College Visit Pass from the College & Career Readiness Office or Student Services. You will need to fill out the form and have your teacher sign it before attending the visit. You will also be responsible for making up any missed work when attending a college visit.
If you have a conflict with a college visit, please email Diana.Ams@d303.org for the college rep's contact information.
For Scheduled Virtual Visits: Click the link to enter the live virtual conference with a college rep. For the full listing go to the College Visit page on the CCR Website.
Information for local scholarships and select national scholarships is available in the College and Career Office and through the scholarship listing on the CCR website. This list will continue to be updated throughout the school year.
The Voice of Democracy
The Voice of Democracy is the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ premier scholarship program. Each year nearly 26,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives, with a top prize of $30,000. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. The 2026-2027 audio-essay competition topic is: What a Veteran Taught Me About America. The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12. Please email Richard Zawislak (richard.zawislak@yahoo.com) to submit your entry. All entries should be submitted by October 23, 2026, in order to meet the national deadline. Rules and criteria for submitting your application are attached here.
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Foundation
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Foundation
The Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. In addition to the monetary award, Cooke Scholars receive comprehensive educational advising, significant cohort-based programming, and graduate school funding, as well as a thriving network of nearly 2,500 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni.
Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Awards (up to $40,000) vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive. Key requirements include: Unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above. Demonstrated financial need and family income up to $95,000. Application deadline is November 11, 2026.
Elks National Foundation Scholarship Program
Elks National Foundation Scholarship Program
The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2027 competition. Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university. Male and female students compete separately. Awards range from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year. The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners in late April 2027. (Many local Lodges, districts and state Elks associations award their own scholarships through this program. These scholarships are not to be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.) The application deadline is November 12, 2026.
- D303 Financial Aid Night-St. Charles North Auditorium-September 16, 2026-6:30-8:00 p.m.
- 2027-2028 FAFSA Application-Scheduled to open October 1, 2026
- Pathways Night (2 Year, Tech, Trades & Military Post-Secondary Options)-Compass Academy-October 28, 2026-6-8 p.m.
- FAFSA Completion Workshop-B200C/LRC-October 29, 2026-6-8pm.
- Early College Credit Information Night-St. Charles East Little Theatre-November 17, 2026 -6:30-8:30.p.m.
- Spring Into College-Little Theatre-March 9, 2027-6-8 p.m.
- Fox Valley College Fair@ St. Charles East Main Gym-March 24, 2027-6-8 p.m.
More details will be shared as we get closer to each event date.
College & Career Readiness Team
Website: https://sites.google.com/d303.org/stcharleseast--collegecareer/home
Location: 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-5770
Twitter: @STCECCR