Guidance Frequently Asked Questions

1....Who is my counselor?

If your last name begins with:

• (A-G): Eva Del Toro
• (H-O): Misty Duncan
• (P-Z): Mandy Craven

2....How do I see my counselor?

If you wish to see your Guidance Counselor, you will need to come to the Guidance Office. If the counselor is available they will see you at the time you arrive. However, if the counselor is not available, then you will need to thoroughly complete a “Request to See a Counselor” form and leave it with the secretary. The counselor will call you down as soon as possible.

3....How do parents/guardians schedule conferences with teachers?

Parents/Guardians may schedule conferences with their student’s teachers by contacting their student’s Guidance Counselor at 534-7405. Due to teaching schedules conferences are scheduled at 2:15 p.m.

4....How do parents/guardians contact teachers?

You may contact a student’s teacher by calling the Main Office at 534-7400 or you may email them by going to the Faculty page of this website and clicking on their name.

5....Can I get my schedule changed and how do I get my schedule changed?

During July, prior to the start of the new school year, the Guidance Office provides a schedule of dates and times students may come to get their schedules changed. Students are encouraged to take advantage of those schedule change dates. After these dates, we do not change schedules unless there are extenuating circumstances.

These circumstances may include:
--a blank in the schedule
--a student may have been scheduled for classes they have already taken
--a specific class is needed to meet specific requirements
--class size balancing.

Students may request a schedule change after the schedule change dates by completing a “Request to See a Counselor Form” and explain the reason for the request in detail. Counselors will prioritize and address the requests as soon as possible. This does not guarantee a change will be made.

6....How do I check my student’s attendance?

To view student’s attendance you will first need to complete the application for the Parent Internet Viewer. You may do this by downloading the application at www.bartowhighschool.com, completing the application and having it notarized, or you may complete the application in the Guidance Office. You will then need to use your student’s ID number and your password (which will be emailed to you) to access your student’s information. You may check your student’s attendance online at www.bartowhighschool.com and click on the Parent Viewer link on the right side.

You may also contact the Attendance Office at 534-7400 if you wish to check your student’s attendance.

7....How do I check my student’s grades?

To view student’s grades you will first need to complete the application for the Parent Viewer. You may do this by downloading the application at www.bartowhighschool.com, completing the application and having it notarized, or you may complete the application in the Guidance Office. You will then need to use your student’s ID number and your password (which will be emailed to you) to access your student’s information. You may check your student’s grades online at www.bartowhighschool.com and click on the Parent Viewer link.

You may also contact the teacher at 534-7400 or the Guidance Office at 534-7405 if you wish to check your student’s grades.

8....Who’s responsibility is it for my child to have all requirements needed to graduate high school?

Although the Guidance Counselors make every effort to monitor students’ graduation status and requirements it is the student’s and the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to make sure that all graduation requirements have been met.

9....What are the graduation requirements?

Students must select one of the following graduation options by the end of their 9th grade year:

***(A)*** Completion of the general requirements for high school graduation requiring successful completion of a minimum of 24 academic credits.

English - 4 Credits
Mathematics - 3 Credits
Successful completion of Algebra I or a series of courses equivalent to Algebra
Science - 3 Credits – two of which must have a laboratory component;
American History -1 Credit
World History -1 Credit
Economics - 0.5 Credit
American Government - 0.5 Credit
Foreign Language – not required for high school graduation but required for state university system admission.
1 credit from the following:
Practical Arts Career Education,
Exploratory Career Education, or
Performing Fine Arts or combination of 0.5 credit from each of the above
(0.5 from Practical Arts and 0.5 from Performing Fine Arts)
Life Management Skills - 0.5 Credit
Personal Fitness- 0.5 Credit and
Other physical education - 0.5 Credit
Electives - 8.5 Credits

Passing of both sections of FCAT

2.00 cumulative unweighted Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale

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***(B)*** Completion of a 3-year standard college preparatory program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18 academic credits. *To choose this option students must score Level 3 or higher on both FCAT reading and math in their 9th grade year.

English - 4 Credits
Mathematics - 3 Credits – at the
Algebra I level or higher from the list of courses that qualify for state university admission.
Natural Science - 3 Credits – two of which must have a laboratory component;
Social Sciences - 3 Credits (American History, World History, Economics, American Government);
Foreign Language - same second language - 2 Credits – unless the student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate competency in a language other than
English. If the student demonstrates competency in another language, the
student may replace the language
requirement with two credits in other academic courses; and
Electives - 3 Credits
All courses earned toward the college prep program must satisfy admission requirements for the state university system. Six of the 18 credits must be in
classes that are honors, dual
enrollment, advanced placement, IB, AICE or specifically listed as rigorous by the Florida Department of Education.

Passing of both sections of FCAT

3.00 cumulative weighted Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale in the courses required for the college preparatory program and earn a weighted or unweighted grade that earns at least 3.0 points or its equivalent in each of the 18 required credits.

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***(c)*** Completion of a 3-year career preparatory program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18 academic credits.*To choose this option students must score Level 3 or higher on both FCAT reading and math in their 9th grade year.

English - 4 Credits
Mathematics - 3 Credits – one of
which must be Algebra I or its equivalent.
Natural Science - 3 Credits – two of which must have a laboratory component;
Social Sciences - 3 Credits (American History, World History, Economics,
American Government);
Foreign Language – Not Required
Practical Arts/Performing Fine Arts -
3 credits in a single vocational/career education program OR 3 credits in a single career/technical dual enrollment program, OR 5 credits in vocational/career education courses (including 3 credits
in one sequential career and technical education program).
Electives - 2 Credits unless 5 credits in career/technical education.

Passing of both sections of FCAT

3.00 cumulative weighted Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale in the courses required for the career preparatory program and earn at least a 2.0 GPA or its equivalent in each of the 18 required credits.

10....How do I enroll my student at Bartow High School?

Prior to registering for classes, students must be enrolled at Bartow High School. Enrolling a student at Bartow High School means a student must have all enrolling paperwork completed and be activated on the computer system.

If your student is “zoned” for BHS we will be able to enroll them when the following documentation has been provided. Different situations require different information, so please read each category to determine which is appropriate. After the student is enrolled and activated on the computer, an appointment may be scheduled with the appropriate counselor to complete the registration process and answer questions you may have regarding attending school at Bartow High School.

****Enrolling Documents for First time students in Polk County PUBLIC schools:

1) Birth certificate
2) School physical (less than 1 year old unless coming from another Florida school in which a previous one will suffice)
3) Current shot records on the Florida “blue card”
**4) 2 current proofs of residence in the Enrolling parent or LEGAL guardians name. You must choose 2 different categories out of these 4:
..........a) Voters ID
..........b) A current utility bill (cable, electric, phone, gas – for home use)
..........c) Lease agreement, Rent receipt (with the name, address, date, and signature on it), Mortgage, Deed, Closing paperwork, FEMA, housing authority, or Joe Tedder, Tax Collector.
..........d) Proof of government benefits such as social security, disability, children and family services, child support letter.
..........e) If you are living with a relative or friend and cannot provide your own proofs see the last section of this note below

****Enrolling Documents for Students returning to Polk County PUBLIC Schools:

1) Current shot records on the Florida “blue card”
2) 2 current proofs of residence in the Enrolling parent’s or LEGAL guardians’ name (See **4 above for list)

****If you are NOT “zoned” for BHS you must do the following:

1) You must apply for a Transfer (every year!) by stopping at any Polk County Public School and asking for the transfer application. When you complete the application it MUST be have the required 2 proofs of residence attached. Send it in via us mail, fax, or hand delivered to the Polk County School Board office in Bartow. Applications will be accepted starting on April 1st. Returning the transfer application to the school office may cause a delay.

2) When you receive your letter of Transfer Approval, you may bring it to the BHS Guidance Office to enroll the student. The letter is a substitute for the 2 proofs in BHS zone. Do this as soon as you receive it.

3) You must also bring in the appropriate enrolling documents listed previously to the BHS Guidance Office.

If you cannot provide the 2 proofs of residence in the parents name because the parent is residing with a relative or friend the following must be done each year also:

1) An affidavit must be picked up at any school and notarized. This form states you are all living in the same household but the relative/friend is the one who must now prove they live in our zone and you are his guest.

2) The relative/friend supplies the 2 proofs of residence (see choices above in first section **4)