Counseling

The mission of the Gateway Professional School Counselors is to provide a comprehensive developmental counseling program for all students K-12. Professional School Counselors provide equitable access to maximize academic achievement, to foster personal and social growth, and to facilitate career development in partnership with parents, guardians and all other members of the school community. We are key stakeholders in a collaborative effort to provide a safe and supportive environment academically, physically, and emotionally. Advocacy, leadership, collaboration, and systematic change are the framework of the Gateway School District School Counseling Program. Our mission is to inspire all students to develop their individual potential to become life-long learners who are college and career ready citizens in our diverse and changing world.

The Gateway School District Counseling Department has adopted the National Model for School Counseling as our program foundation. The American School Counseling Association is the front-runner in quality school counseling programming. The model serves as our guide as we deliver counseling services to all students in the district. By adopting the standards and incorporating the model into our district curriculum, we can better serve the student population by being accountable through a written, systematic, comprehensive program.

Building Level Counseling Pages

Counseling Resources

ACT/SAT Testing

College entrance exams are those tests that colleges and universities require as part of the admission package, specifically the SAT and the ACT.

It is suggested that students take 3 college entrance exams, ideally in the 2nd semester of Junior year. Applications for college are started in the summer and early fall of senior year, so students need to have these scores for their application. A student can take an SAT or ACT anytime during high school, however it is best to have as much curriculum and preparation as possible to help students achieve their highest score, hence another reason for taking them during 2nd semester of junior year. SAT scores and ACT scores should be sent directly to the college. SAT scores (ACT by request only) do get downloaded to transcripts, however many colleges are now requiring the electronic submission directly from the testing company. It is suggested when students register to take these tests they also send their scores directly to colleges at this time.

It is also fine for students to take 2 college entrance exams in the spring, and one in October of the senior year. Many kids are in "application mode" the fall of their senior year and tend to do well. However, it is a personal preference. If your student needs to take an SAT II (subject) in addition to the SAT Reasoning, they will likely be testing in 4 different sessions. If they prefer to take 3 tests during spring of the junior year, that is fine. Waiting to take all college entrance exams the senior year is not ideal.

Students have the opportunity to prepare for the SAT by taking the PSAT, and sophomores only will the the PLAN, the ACT preparation assessment. The PLAN is given in the fall, and the PSAT is always given on the same date, the third Saturday of October. Sophomores and Juniors are both encouraged to take the PSAT. Results for the PSAT will be given back to students in early January.

For more information and to register for the ACT and SAT, please click on the links below.

ACT (www.actstudent.org)
SAT (www.collegeboard.org)

Testing Preparation Support Sites

http://www.number2.com Free SAT and ACT preparation.
http://www.freevocabulary.comFree Vocabulary. Com- offers SAT vocabulary preparation.
http://www.review.com Princeton Review - Lists and defines the most commonly used words on the SAT.Has an on line ACT prep and has tips on finding money for college.
http://www.majortests.com/sat/ Majortests helps you prepare for the SAT by giving you free practice tests. You don't need to register or create usernames and passwords.
http://internet4classrooms.com/act_sat.htm Free resources to help students practice for both tests.

AP Testing

Career Resource Center

College Visit Dates

External Scholarships

Local Scholarships

Summer School Information

2026 APPROVED SUMMER SCHOOL OFFERINGS

School	Contact	Tuition & Fees	Registration	Class Start/Stop Dates	Class Times

Waterfront Learning	wflhelp@aiu3.net 412-394-4996	$275 per course	Enrollment Opens: May 28, 2026 Deadline: July 9, 2026 http://waterfront.geniussis.com	Students can enroll in a session any time throughout the registration period. Course begins upon full payment.	Online Courses
WIU eAcademy Kiski School Dist.	Braden Hoffner - braden.hoffner@kiskiarea.com Tara Taliani - Tara.taliani@kiskiarea.com Alicia Szarek - alicia.szarek@kiskiarea.com	$175 per course	Register online at Kiski Area Credit Recovery Site https://sites.google.com/kiskiarea.com/credit-recovery/home Deadline: June 19, 2026	June 22 to July 24, 2026	Online Courses (google classroom)
McKeesport Area School Dist.	Mr. Dexter Hairston Dexterhrstn59@gmail.com	$140 per course	Register at the high school on June 15, 16, 17, 2026 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm FULL PAYMENT REQUIRED / CASH or MONEY ORDER ONLY *Counselor Signature required on Registration form.	Two Sessions: June 22 to July 9, 2026 *July 13 to July 30, 2026	In-person and Online Courses 8:00am to 1:00pm Monday - Thursday

For more information regarding other Westmoreland AIU Credit Recovery Information please go to:

https://www.wiu7.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=3641904&type=d&pREC_ID=2413101

Check the various contacts/websites listed above for further detailed information.

Transcript Information

Staff

Counseling

Help Is Available:

RESOURCES:

Testing Preparation Support Sites

CRC WEBSITES

Career:

Post Secondary:

Scholarship and Financial:

Miscellaneous:

College Visit dates

Attention Seniors!

2026 APPROVED SUMMER SCHOOL OFFERINGS