WHS Class of 2026 Updates

Greetings 11th grade students and families,

We are so proud of our 11th grade students for their hard work preparing for a successful college or career experience after they graduate from Watertown High School in June of 2026! This newsletter serves as a resource at this critical juncture in your student's journey. Be sure to read the information below for important updates related to career planning. This newsletter will be also linked in future WHS Weekly Updates to WHS families for easy reference.

Please pay special attention to information about Junior meetings with student services and automatic admission opportunities (Direct Admit and The Wisconsin Guarantee).

Thank you in advance for your partnership as we work together to support the future careers of our current 11th grade students!

You are cordially invited to your child’s Class of 2026 Junior Meeting. Watertown High School’s Junior Meetings will run between November 2024 and February 2025.

The junior meeting will include a review of your child’s strengths, interests, talents, abilities, and academic performance. Our meeting will discuss post-secondary goals, how to achieve them and discuss the next steps towards those goals. Your involvement in this conference is very important for the success of your child’s ongoing education and preparation for the future.

Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to participate in person or virtually. Please notify us if you need to attend virtually, so we are prepared to open a link. If you are unable to attend, please know that we will share a summary of our discussion with students and families after each meeting.

We look forward to meeting with you and if you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions.

Junior Conference Action Plan

Junior Conference Preview

Please click on the name of your child’s assigned school counselor below to schedule a conference; include your child’s first AND last name in the appointment title. If Spanish translation services are needed, please put “SP” in your calendar reservation with your child’s first and last name.

Students Last Name A-He:

• Amy True , WHS Counselor
• truea@mywusd.org

Students Last Name Hi-Ph:

• Erikka Olson, WHS Counselor
• olsone@mywusd.org

Students Last Name Pi-Z:

• Avery Harris , WHS Counselor
• harrisa@mywusd.org

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the Universities of Wisconsin system launched additional ways for students to be admitted directly to selected University of Wisconsin Schools. These admission pathways are called Direct Admit and "The Wisconsin Guarantee." Be sure to carefully read the information below to learn more about how you can take advantage of automatic admission opportunities to universities in the Universities of Wisconsin system.

Note there are significant differences between Direct Admit Wisconsin and The Wisconsin Guarantee. Read the materials below for additional information! We will continue to send information to the Class of 2026 students and families as it becomes available.

As you are aware, Watertown High School is participating in the Direct Admit Wisconsin program for the Class of 2026. UW Direct Admit is an opportunity for 11th grade students to be automatically admitted to participating University of Wisconsin system schools free of charge. Direct Admit Wisconsin offers early and proactive admission to participating Universities of Wisconsin for rising seniors at participating Wisconsin high schools.

In order to participate, 11th grade families must log into Skyward Family Access and “opt-in” by Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Directions are attached on how to locate the Direct Admit Wisconsin in Skyward Family Access. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. True, WHS counselor, at (920) 262-7500 x6825 or truea@mywusd.org

We are thrilled to share an additional opportunity in light of recent Wisconsin legislation, also known as The Wisconsin Guarantee or Act 95, for Wisconsin High School students beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Recent updates provided by the Universities of Wisconsin include information related to The Wisconsin Guarantee.

“The Wisconsin Guarantee offers guaranteed admission to all Universities of Wisconsin (UW) universities for all who qualify. First-year applicants from Wisconsin high schools who are in the top 10% of their class at the end of 11th grade, or Wisconsin residents who are homeschooled and receive an ACT score in the national 90th percentile ranking or higher, or are a National Merit Scholarship finalist will be guaranteed to all UW universities except UW-Madison.

Additionally, first-year applicants from Wisconsin high schools who are in the top 5% of their class at the end of 11th grade, or Wisconsin residents who are homeschooled and receive an ACT score in the national 98th percentile ranking or higher or are a National Merit Scholarship finalist will be guaranteed admission to UW-Madison provided that they apply on or before the Early Action deadline.”

As a result of the The Wisconsin Guarantee, Watertown High School will:

• Include the Top 5% and Top 10% of the class based on GPA on transcripts.
• Send a communication (emailed and mailed) to the Class of 2025 notifying them if they qualify for the Top 5% or Top 10% of their graduation class based on GPA. (Between July 15 - August 1)

Note that, for qualifying students in the Top 5% or Top 10% of their class rank based on GPA, they still need to submit an official application to the University of Wisconsin schools per The Wisconsin Guarantee. Additional information for admission to UW-Madison is available on the UW-Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment website.

Starting in August 1, 2024, the Universities of Wisconsin began offering three paths to first-year student/freshman undergraduate admission:

1. Traditional first-year student/freshman admission application process
2. Direct Admit Wisconsin
3. The Wisconsin Guarantee

All three paths to admission require students to meet the minimum admission criteria. Neither Direct Admit Wisconsin nor The Wisconsin Guarantee provide guaranteed admission into a specific major, program, school, or college. Rather, they provide admission to Universities of Wisconsin universities.

Direct Admit Wisconsin offers early and proactive admission to participating Universities of Wisconsin for rising seniors at participating Wisconsin high schools. The UWs collaborate with participating high schools to review student academic records (high school courses and GPA) at the end of their junior year and make offers of admission to participating UW universities without the need to submit a traditional admission application.

The table below further outlines the differences between Traditional Admission, Direct Admit Wisconsin, and The Wisconsin Guarantee.

• Direct Admit Wisconsin
• General Information related to the Direct Admit Wisconsin Program
• Universities of Wisconsin website
  
• General information related to the Wisconsin Guarantee
• UW Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment Website
  
• Review the website for specific information for admission to UW-Madison
• UW LaCrosse Wisconsin Guarantee Information on website
  
• Review the website for specific information for admission to UW-LaCrosse