

CCMR/Counseling Newsletter
College, Career & Military Readiness - April, 2025
VISION: The vision of DeSoto ISD is to inspire curiosity and consciousness, develop character, build courage and nurture compassion.
MISSION: The mission of DeSoto ISD is to ensure students, without exception, learn and grow at their highest levels.
Upcoming Events
Advanced Placement Exams
AP Study Sessions
AP study sessions are available after school and on Saturdays from January through April to help students prepare for their AP exams. These sessions provide valuable opportunities for targeted review, practice exams, and guided support from AP teachers.
📌 How to Join:
Check with your AP teacher for the specific study session schedule for your AP subject. Attending these sessions can help strengthen your understanding of key concepts and improve your confidence before the exam.
Stay committed to your AP success—take advantage of these study opportunities! 💪📚
Education is Freedom
Master Class: How to Start the College Process
Juniors & Parents are you wondering how to build your college list,
ask teachers for recommendation letters, write essays/resumes, or
pay for college?
Register at: https://startthecollegeprocess2025.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025, 06:00 PM
Master Class: College 101
Students, are you wondering what you'll need for college, how to deal
with roommates or what items to move into your dorm?
Register at: https://college1012025.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025, 06:00 PM
Education is Freedom Hosted "Career Fair" for Students
Students were exposed to various career opportunities such as: medical field, barber school, cosmetology, trade school, workforce, etc.
Scholarship Opportunities
There are scholarships available for ALL grade levels. The CCMR department has compiled a list of scholarship opportunities that range from elementary to high school. It is never too early to start securing funds for college. View the listings below and start applying today!!
Raise.Me Scholarship Opportunities (9th - 12th grades)
Scholarships Made Simple
How it works
Five Easy Steps to Sign up
Additional Scholarship Resources
Advanced Academics Information
20 Helpful Websites to Assist Students in Preparing for the SAT and ACT Exams
March Highlights
Texas Instruments – AP Calculus Workshop
Texas Instruments (TI) is a valued business partner of DeSoto ISD. The district is a proud recipient of the Texas Instruments educational grant, which supports STEM curriculum redesign, student success initiatives, workforce alignment, system coherence, and professional learning for sustained academic growth. Additionally, DeSoto ISD has received the National Science and Math Initiative grant for a second time, funded by the Texas Instruments Foundation. This grant provides professional development, mentorship, classroom-ready resources, and teacher support groups.
Recognizing DeSoto ISD’s commitment to STEM education, Texas Instruments selected the district to participate in the AP Calculus Ready Workshop on Thursday, March 27th. During this workshop, TI will work with AP Calculus students to develop strategies for leveraging the TI-Nspire calculator for success on the AP Calculus Exam. Students will also receive targeted preparation for free-response question types commonly found on the exam.
As a district, we are dedicated to exposing students to STEM content, postsecondary opportunities, and careers in STEM fields. Understanding the importance of these experiences, DeSoto ISD’s Director of Advanced Academics, Robin Johnson Ford, extended an invitation to other Best Southwest high schools, including Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and Lancaster. These districts will bring their advanced math students from AP Calculus, AP Pre-Calculus, and College Trigonometry courses to engage in collaborative problem-solving, group discussions, and networking opportunities.
The goal of this event is to expand access to advanced math opportunities and foster greater STEM awareness among our scholars, ensuring they are well-prepared for future academic and career success.
Gifted & Talented Programming
Student Business & Entrepreneur Fair
The Ruby Young Talented & Gifted Academy hosted its inaugural Business & Entrepreneurship Fair on March 25, 2025.
This exciting event provided our middle school scholars (Grades 6-8) the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial skills by displaying their products and services, delivering elevator pitches, and presenting their business plans to the school community.
Career & Technical Education (CTE)
March Programming Highlights & Upcoming Events
March Programming Highlights
- Law & Criminal Justice students shadowed Judge Mike Jones at the Dallas County Courts
- Automotive students participated in the Wheeling and Dealing Tech Expo and Job Fair held at Dallas College
- Construction students attended the DFW Construction Career Day at Globe Life Field
- select female CTE students participated in the Sisterhood Success Summit held at Dallas College
- Culinary Arts students participated in the Prostart Skills competition in Waco, TX
- Health Science Patient Care Technician students begin their four week clinical rounds at Methodist Charlton Medical Center
- Community partners from Total Care Emergency DeSoto visited with our first year health science students and taught them about CPR
Upcoming Events
- Participating in Work-Based Learning experiences.
Health Science Patient Care Technician students
Clinical Rounds at Methodist Charlton Medical Center
CTE Planning Guide
Students & parents can view the CTE Student Planning Guide to select courses for the 2025-2026 school year.
Counselors' Corner
Educational Planning: Schedule Your Advisement Session
Educational planning is a critical step in ensuring each student’s success on their academic journey. To support this process, our school counselors are conducting advisement sessions with students and parents in grades 5 through 11. During these sessions, we will work together to develop and update an individualized education plan tailored for postsecondary success.
The courses identified in each student’s educational plan will be utilized for the 2025–2026 course enrollments. To assist in this process, we’ve provided the 2025–2026 Course Catalogs. Please review the appropriate document linked below to explore the wide range of course options available.
We encourage you to contact your school counselor to schedule an advisement session and review this important information. These sessions are an invaluable opportunity to align your student’s academic choices with their long-term goals. We look forward to working with you!
Highlights from Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy
GEAR UP Programs in DeSoto ISD
College Driven GEAR UP Program Newsletter
Next Generation GEAR UP Program Newsletter
Parent Resources
Nine Easy Homework Help Tips Every Parent Should Know
Parent Guides to Student Success
Parents Guide Contents (K-8 and High School)
The guides include:
- Key items children should be learning in English language arts and mathematics in each grade.
- Activities that parents can do at home to support their child's learning.
- Methods for helping parents build stronger relationships with their child's teacher.
Tips for planning for college and career (high school only).
https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/Parents-Guides-to-Student-Success