Richard McKenna Charter Schools

Plan for Success

Planning for the future while working on high school requirements can be a challenge. But we’re here to help, from guiding you through a graduation plan to helping you register for college and providing resources and ideas for college funding.

While our guidance counselors meet with every student throughout the year, we encourage students to be proactive about their high school education and beyond. This page provides you the information you need to explore college and career options as well as to ensure success during your high school years.

Volunteering

Apply For College

Stay on top of critical college application and recruiting information.

Financial Aid Resources

Paying for college requires planning. Know what to expect and how to get help.

Scholarship Resources

Scholarship opportunities are everywhere. Visit these sites to help you get started.

College Entrance Exams

Standardized testing can strike fear into the most intelligent and confident of students. However, with preparation and knowledge of what to expect, students can conquer this hurdle. Learn more on these sites:

Career Planning

College isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. There are lots of other options out there. Discover what’s available.

Graduation Requirements

All students graduating from RMC must complete all Idaho requirements for graduation; complete a senior project; and earn at least six (6) credits through RMC. To learn more about required assessments, please review our Assessment page.

Richard McKenna On-Campus Graduation Requirements
All on-campus graduates, starting with the class of 2027, must earn a total of 50 semester credits. This includes:

9 English credits
- One (1) of which must be speech.
6 math credits
- Two (2) algebra credits, two (2) geometry credits, and two (2) student choice math credits
6 science credits
- Four of which must be lab-based sciences.
5 social studies credits
- This includes two (2) credits in US History; two (2) credits in US Government; and one (1) Economics credit.
2 humanities credits
1 health credit
1 senior project credit
1 financial literacy credit
19 elective credits

Prepping For College

Ever wonder what you can be doing now to prepare for college? Actually, a lot. But it’s not as hard or intimidating as you think.

Solid Academic Foundation
The first step in fulfilling your dream of college is to start laying a good academic foundation. What you learn in middle school will make a huge difference in what classes you’re able to take (and excel at) in high school. Obviously classes like English, history, math, and science are important, but don’t forget about skills classes like typing, computer application, and business accounting.

Read
Next, read, read, read. You’ll be amazed what reading will do for your vocabulary and writing skills. And we all know that good essay writing is essential to garnering scholarships! Read everything from books to news articles and blogs, play word games, and make sure you have (and are using) a library card.

Extracurriculars
And finally, start working on extracurriculars. Colleges love to welcome well-rounded students. Students who volunteer, intern, and/or can show achievement through sports and hobbies are often the first to land big scholarships. Middle school is a time of exploration. And rightly so. Allow your children to explore new interests and discover hidden talents; just remember to keep this aspect of life in balance. It is much easier to manage involvement (and carry it through) in one or two activities than to enter high school committed to dozens.

Plan For Success