Welcome to the April edition of the DHS Counselor Corner! It has been a busy season at Downey High School as we welcome our future Vikings and help our current students prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
Link to PDF version of the newsletter.
Future Freshmen: Class of 2030
We were thrilled to host our Viking Showcase / Future Freshmen Night on March 11. School counselors met with incoming students and their families to discuss:
- Graduation Requirements and the critical 15 A-G courses.
- CTE Pathways available at DHS.
- Required 9th-Grade Courses, including English, Math, Science, Health, PE, and a Language Other Than English (LOTE) or Visual/Performing Art (VPA).
Registration continued on March 23, as counselors visited Doty and Sussman Middle Schools to help 8th graders select their high school classes. We look forward to seeing everyone at Link Crew’s Freshmen Orientation!
Counseling Highlights: Preparing for 11th Grade
During March, our focus turned to the Class of 2028. Counselors visited 10th-grade English classes to conduct 11th-grade registration presentations. Following these presentations, counselors held one-on-one meetings with sophomores to:
- Review official high school transcripts and total credits.
- Determine A-G college eligibility status and progress toward graduation.
- Schedule summer school and finalize course requests for the junior year.
Senior Spotlight: Cerritos College Senior Preview Day
High school seniors are invited to explore the next step in their journey at the Cerritos College Senior Preview Day.
- When: Friday, April 17, 2026
- Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Gym
This event allows “Future Falcons” to meet faculty, explore academic and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, take campus tours, and attend workshops. Lunch is provided, and there are chances to win prizes! Space is limited, so please pick up a permission slip in the College & Career Center (Room A-201).
Important Dates for April
Mark your calendars for these upcoming deadlines and breaks:
- April 3–10: Spring Break.
- April 19: Cerritos Complete Application Deadline.
- April 22: Administrative Professionals Day.
- April 27: Long Beach City College Application Deadline.
Top Teacher Tip: Ms. Wilmoth
Our featured tip this month comes from Ms. Wilmoth, who shares some wisdom for navigating high school life:
“Stay organized and plan to finish assignments ahead of time. Always remember the grass is always greener on the other side, but it is just as hard to mow. Worry about your own success and don’t compare yourself to others. Have fun! You only get one shot at high school.”
Stay Connected
For more resources and updates, check out our Roadmap to College and Career Readiness at tinyurl.com/roadmapDUSD.
Follow us on Instagram: @downeyhscounselors.