Category: Class of 2021

Cap and gown ordering info for Seniors

Web Team

Updated deadline for ordering cap & gown for graduation is Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Students who did not receive an informational packet can find all the info that was in the packet at www.highschool.herffjones.com. Select Hillsboro Comp Nashville, TN on the pull-down menu.

Students on fee waiver and/or free and reduced lunch must order directly through Herff Jones/Mike Smiley’s office at 615-329-2504.

ACT is Tuesday 10/20

Web Team

Seniors’ only opportunity to take the ACT exam for free is this Tuesday, October 20th. Taking the ACT is a state graduation requirement. Students should have been instructed by teachers to complete this ACT survey to ensure they are registered with Hillsboro to take the test. Students should check their email for information regarding where to park, what door to enter and other important social distancing rules. 

FAFSA webinars

Web Team

Beginning the first week in October there will be two weekly webinars on the FAFSA.  Every Monday in October (and also on 10/6, 10/7, 10/8) at 6:00 p.m. CT, we will present FAFSA Line-by-Line which will take a student/parent through the FAFSA from start through submission.  Every Friday beginning October 9 (and also on 10/7) at 11:30 a.m. CT, we will also present FAFSA FAQ which will provide counselors/parents/students a forum to ask questions about the FAFSA.  Families must register (see instructions HERE) for either webinar via the following link (https://www.tn.gov/thec/covid-19-campus-information/outreach-virtual-presentations.1.html).  Additional FAFSA resources will be made available next week including section-by-section walkthrough videos of the FAFSA and a FAFSA instruction guide.  The combination of live webinars, recordings, and other e-material should help; however, we understand not all families will/can take advantage of them.  Please let Jason Seay (jason.seay@tn.gov), director of outreach for the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, know if he needs to schedule a separate TEAMS, WebEx, Zoom at a particular time to best serve you.

ACT Testing info for Seniors

Web Team

State Board of Education policy requires that a student must complete either the ACT or SAT exam to graduate with a regular high school diploma. The ACT exam will be offered to high school seniors in their school building Tuesday, Oct. 20.  

Here is important information you need to know:

  • This will be the first opportunity for seniors to attempt the exam at no cost.
  • The Oct. 20 test administration will likely be the only opportunity to take the ACT exam in an MNPS school building until sometime in the second semester, at the earliest. Our high schools are not expected to be open on ACT national test dates until buildings are open for instruction. Students always have the option to test on a nationally published testing date; however, since MNPS schools are not testing on these dates until our high schools re-open, students would need to test at a private school or out of county.
    • This would be at the student/family’s own expense, UNLESS students qualify for the ACT fee waiver based on established eligibility requirements (Free and Reduced Lunch eligibility or number of family members to income ratio). Students should contact their school counselor if they believe they may be eligible.
  • A standard test schedule is expected in all MNPS schools on Oct. 20. While details are still being finalized, students should be at their school by 7 a.m. to get checked in and to their test location. 
  • Testing will end around noon.
  • Students are required to wear a mask or other face covering and follow social distancing on test day.
  • The district hopes to be able to provide bus transportation on Oct. 20 for students who indicate a need for transportation. Schools will be reaching out to seniors this month to identify those planning to test and in need of transportation.
  • Breakfast and lunch will be available to students Oct. 20.
  • The PSAT/ National Merit Qualifier has been postponed until January 2021.

Please watch for additional information from your school.

ACT testing for class of 2021

Web Team

Current Seniors did not have the opportunity to take the ACT at school this past spring, so Hillsboro will offer Seniors a free test on September 22, IF in-person school has resumed by then. If school remains virtual in September, this test date will be cancelled. 

Seniors wanting to take the ACT on their own may visit act.org for information on test dates and locations and registration. There is a fee for taking the ACT on your own. Financial assistance information is also available at act. org. 

A number of ACT prep options are available on the Hillsboro counseling site.