Sleepy Hollow High School Hosts College and Career Readiness Day

On Wednesday, October 22, Sleepy Hollow High School paused its regular schedule to focus on preparing students for life after graduation. The annual College and Career Readiness Day provided opportunities for all grade levels to explore academic, financial, and professional pathways for their futures.

Students in grades 9–11 participated in digital practice assessments through the College Board’s Bluebook testing app, designed to offer feedback on college and career readiness. As practice exams, scores are not reported to colleges nor included on student transcripts.

Ninth graders took a baseline PSAT, which helps students, parents, and educators measure progress throughout high school. Sophomores and juniors also completed the PSAT, gaining risk-free exposure to the SAT’s format, question types, and content. For 11th graders, the exam additionally serves as a qualifier for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

According to Counseling Department Chair David Ziegler, SHHS is one of the few schools in the region to dedicate an entire day to this level of college and career readiness. By combining digital PSAT practice across three grades with hands-on workshops, students are better prepared for life beyond graduation.

“I see how much better prepared our students are in developing a college admissions testing plan by having exposure to the PSAT in grades 9–11,” said Mr. Ziegler. “Practicing the new digital PSAT exam is an important step in developing a college application plan.”

While underclassmen completed their assessments, seniors took part in a series of college and career-focused workshops. These included Financial Literacy Skills, Scholarship/Application Support with high school counselors, Applying for Financial Aid, and Passport for Good Service Opportunities. The workshops are designed to give students practical tools for the next phase of their journey after high school.

“This is really beneficial because we're in the midst of the college process right now, and it’s kind of difficult to navigate on our own,” said senior Julia Ryan, who attended the Scholarship/Application Support workshop. “I'm planning on attending a four-year university, but scholarships are something I haven't really got into, so it was really cool to get a deeper understanding of that.”

SHHS Counselor Michael Genua said this kind of support addresses many of the most common questions students face during senior year.

“One of the biggest questions we get from seniors is ‘how do I pay for college’, so we try to make sure that our students get the information and have access to all the things that are going to be helpful for them,” he said.

Genua noted that many local scholarships are made possible thanks to community members who generously contribute to student success.

“So we take some time today to make sure students know about these opportunities and begin the process of applying for them—it’s valuable for students to have this kind of information, especially with the rising costs of education and how difficult it is to manage that.”

In the Financial Literacy Skills workshop, Social Studies Teacher Michael O’Neil emphasized the importance of equipping students with practical financial knowledge. Using clear visuals, he explained the concept of compound interest, demonstrated how to set up a Roth IRA, and discussed the differences among financial products such as individual stocks, index funds, and ETFs.

“We are trying to develop and build skills for students that are going to improve their future and hopefully alleviate stress and build a better quality of life,” said Mr. O’Neil.

The day reflected the district’s ongoing commitment to empowering students to make informed choices and take ownership of their future—whether through college, career, or community pathways. Through these experiences, they continue on their journey toward educational excellence and professional growth.