Counseling and Career Exploration

The Office of Counseling and Career Exploration welcomes the opportunity to meet with parents to discuss academic progress, interpersonal relations, social adjustment, and post-secondary plans. Meeting with parents is a vital and crucial part of a student’s personal and academic success.
QUICK NAVIGATION

GUIDANCE LINKS

ACT
The ACT assessment is given to all 11th grade students annually.  There is no cost for the spring test. 

If a student wishes to take additional ACT assessments beyond the required spring test for 11th grade, they must register online.  There is a fee for taking additional ACT tests. A student may register on-line for the ACT at www.actstudent.org or stop by the Counseling and Career Exploration Office and pick up an ACT registration packet to mail. The BHS School Code is 180130.

Students may use a fee waiver to cover the cost of the ACT if they qualify for free or reduced lunches. T PREP for practice test resources.**

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Advanced Placement (AP) is available to all enrolled students. Bardstown High School recognizes that all students have the right to be academically challenged and are encouraged to participate in these courses.

Students who take an Advanced Placement Course will receive AP credit on their transcript.  Listed below are the AP Courses that Bardstown High School may offer, depending on student request, classroom availability, and faculty course-load:

  • AP English Language
  • AP English Literature
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Biology
  • AP Physics
  • AP Psychology
  • AP Spanish IV
  • AP U.S. History
  • AP Government
  • AP Studio Art
  • AP Environmental Science

*Test fee waivers are available for those qualifying for free/reduced lunch programs. See the Counseling and Career Exploration Office for details.

DUAL CREDIT

Students at Bardstown High School have the opportunity to enroll in college classes that will count as both college credit and high school credit.  Students have the choice of taking these classes online or in a traditional classroom setting.  These classes are offered to students at a discounted rate. Individuals with questions should see the Counseling and Career Exploration Office for details.

All students at Bardstown High School earn the same diploma. However, in order to ensure all students are prepared to meet their personal and professional goals, curriculum plans have been designed and are suggested herein. Any specific questions about course needs for college enrollments or professional certification preparation should be directed to the Office of Counseling and Career Exploration. 

ADVANCED PREPARATION COURSE PLANNING

  • Four Credits, English 
  • Three Credits, Science – Please select your sequence based on career interest. 
    • Sequence A Sequence B
      • IPC (9th) Honors Physics (9th)
      • Biology (10th) Honors Chemistry (10th)
      • Environmental Science (11th)   Honors Biology (11th) 
  • Four Credits,  Math
    • Algebra I 
    • Geometry
    • Advanced Topics for Calculus
    • Advanced Topics for College Algebra
    • Statistics*
    • AP/DC Calculus* 
    • College Algebra
      *Student’s fourth math credit can be one of these three courses.
  • Three Credits, Social Studies
    • World Civilization
    • American Government & History
    • U.S. History or AP U.S. History
  • Two Credits, Foreign Language
  • One Credit, Arts and Humanities
  • One Credit,  Health and Physical Education

Total: 19 core courses + 9 electives = 28 Credits

Advanced Curriculum must have a minimum of 5 AP/Dual Credit Classes that include AP Language or Dual Credit English plus 4 other AP/Dual Credit classes.

The one-stop place to access all applications offered through the Office of College and Career Exploration, including scholarships, Young Leaders, Kentucky Governor’s summer programs, and more.

Access the Application Portal here.

ASVAB
The ASVAB assessment is administered by the U.S. Military.  This assessment is not required, but if 11th and 12th grade students wish to take the ASVAB, they must register in the Counseling and Career Exploration Office.  There is no cost for this assessment.

Common App

Apply for admission to multiple colleges and universities with just one application! Many institutions require applications through the Common App portal.

Requires users to create a free account.

Our Course Catalogs and Registration Guides will assist students and their parents in planning their high school curriculum.

2022-2023 Course Catalog & Registration Guide

Creating an FSA ID- Infographic

https://www.kheaa.com/pdf/pubs/fsaIDInstructions.pdf

”How to complete the FAFSA” 
YouTube Video from KHEAA Counselor

https://youtu.be/ZdTCexbDT2g

Students entering Bardstown High School after the fall of 2020 must successfully complete twenty – six (26) or more approved high school credits with the following minimum curriculum requirements:

  • Four (4) credits of English I, II and two other personalized credits covering the standards
  • Three (3) credits of Mathematics including Algebra I, Geometry, and two other personalized credits covering the standards
  • Three (3) credits of Social Studies, including World Civilization and U.S. History
  • Three (3) credits of Science that ensure all standards are covered
  • One half (0.5) credit of Health and one half credit (0.5)  of Physical Education
  • One  (1) credit of Visual and Performing Arts

Students must also complete EITHER:

  • Two (2) credits of the same foreign language -OR-
  • Four (4) credits from a single CTE career pathway

All students must also pass the Bardstown High School Civics Exam and demonstrate financial literacy. 

Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA)

Every summer, our faculty of professional artists and educators guide over two hundred of Kentucky’s finest young artists through three weeks of incredibly intense (and incredibly fun) arts instruction. GSA auditions & reviews the Commonwealth’s most promising high school sophomores and juniors in nine different arts disciplines: Architecture + Design, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film + Photography, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Visual Art and Vocal Music. GSA historically takes place in the last 2 weeks of June into the 1st week of July. 

GSA is an arts education program of The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. GSA is offered at no cost to the student, and is made available through funding from the state, as well as private fundraising. The value of GSA is $3,800 per student.

Students do not need to be nominated for GSA. Students may choose to apply without permission or nomination from any school official. However, a recommendation from a teacher and also an administrator is required with each art form application.

GSA does not make selections until the Final Round.

In order to be considered for the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, students must meet the following selection criteria:

  • Currently be a sophomore or junior in high school or home school.
  • Live with a parent or guardian who resides in Kentucky.
  • Complete the application by January. GSA will not consider incomplete applications. There is a fee for applying: $30 for one art form/$35 for two art forms. Students that receive free and reduced lunch have the option to waive the fee.
  • Complete the Recommendation Process as part of the Preliminary Round application.
  • If selected as a finalist, complete the Final Round in March.

Students applying to GSA are required to have one teacher recommendation and one administrator recommendation per art form. Students will complete information at the beginning of the application for their recommendations. Links to an online recommendation form are sent to the teacher’s and administrator’s emails indicated at the beginning of the application.

Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE)

Teens from across the state engage in a three-week residential program, immerse themselves in a creative space, armed  with the tools needed to unleash their entrepreneurial spirits for the betterment of Kentucky.

During the program, teams of high school students develop a business model, design a prototype and pitch their startup to a large audience and a panel of judges. GSE teaches the opportunities, benefits and pitfalls of taking a business concept from the idea phase to pitching it to potential investors.

Students are selected based on their skillsets, creativity, drive, and passion. This is determined by an original, student-submitted video, online application, and references.

The online application for the upcoming summer opens in November.

Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP)

The Governor’s Scholars Program strives to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders. Established in 1983, the program provides academic and personal growth through the balance of a strong liberal arts program with a full co-curricular and residential life experience. Students must complete an application and compete with others from across the state. Those selected attend the program free of charge.

Student Application & Selection Packets are sent to every public, private and parochial school district in the state. Applications may be picked up in the school guidance office in late September or downloaded from our website.  Homeschools should contact the GSP Office to receive a Homeschool application packet. Before reaching the statewide competition, each student must first submit his or her application through his or her school and participate in the school and/or district level competitions.  Only those students selected as candidates and sent on by their district (or unaffiliated private school) may compete in the statewide selection process. The number of candidates each district may submit to the statewide process is based on the district-wide junior class enrollment. Approximately 2,000 applications are received at the state level each year, with approximately 1,020 students selected to attend. The application packets are usually available from the Guidance Counselor in September or October.

Learn about the Path2Pro program at Bardstown High School.

PSAT
The PSAT is not a required assessment but students taking this test are typically in the 11th grade.  Students must register in the Counseling and Career Exploration Office for this test.  The PSAT is the qualifying test to enter the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) competitions for college scholarships.  

JOIN COUNSELOR REMIND TO STAY IN THE KNOW!

SENIORS Class of 2022
text @9a87bf to 81010

JUNIORS Class of 2023
text @7f6bh42 to 81010

SOPHOMORES Class of 2024
text @ga3abh to 81010

FRESHMEN Class of 2025
text @dga2dk to 81010

View all available scholarships here.

CERT
This program will be used by BHS to prepare students for the ACT. CERT offers ACT test prep, practice tests, analytics, individual learning paths, and more.

Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL) College Admissions Test Prep
ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP Exam, College Admissions Essay Writing

KYVL Learning Express Library

Register for free account. Includes Computer Skills Center, High School Equivalency Center, Job & Career Accelerator, Adult Learning Center, Career Center, School Center, College Prep Center, College Center, Recursos para Hispanohablantes

**Contact Ms. Flanagan for home access login information.**


MORE TESTING RESOURCES:

All transcripts to colleges and universities must be submitted via the Parchment website. Students must create a free account.

BHS School Code: 180-130

To request transcripts for local scholarships, please see the BHS Guidance Counseling staff.

View the Kentucky Department of Education Transition Readiness expectations here.

High school sophomores are invited to apply for participation in the Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce Young Leaders Institute. Selection of students is based on overall achievements such as school attendance, resume, essay, and letter of reference. 
 
The number of students accepted per local high school is based on student enrollment for the current year of application. 
 
Students will participate in a series of monthly leadership experiences. They will be picked up at their schools between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. the morning of the program and returned to their schools before the end of the school day.
 
Counselors will officially notify the participants with a letter of acceptance or a letter of rejection provided by the Chamber.

GUIDANCE TEAM

Belinda Hodges
Guidance Counselor, Grades 11-12
Ph. (502) 331-8891

Nicole Thompson
Guidance Counselor, Grades 9-10
Ph. (502) 331-8896

Stephanie Wood, Guidance Clerk

Stephanie Wood
Guidance Secretary
Ph. (502) 331-8890

Lance Blanford
Workforce Development Coordinator
Ph. (502) 331-8889