What should your child do in each year of high school in Florida? This timeline walks parents through 9th to 12th grade: the courses that matter, when to take the PSAT and SAT, how Bright Futures works, and when to apply to college and for financial aid.
Bookmark this guide and come back to it each year. Your child’s school counselor remains the best source for school-specific deadlines.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Prepared by Fred Dufays, founder of UKE Tutoring
At a glance
| Grade | Main focus | Don’t miss |
|---|---|---|
| 9th | Strong start: grades and study habits | Algebra 1 state exam, first service hours, start a world language |
| 10th | Harder classes and a first look at the SAT | Grade 10 English state exam, PSAT practice, first AP or honors classes |
| 11th | The testing year | October PSAT (National Merit), SAT in the spring, college list |
| 12th | Applications and scholarships | Early deadlines in October and November, FAFSA, Bright Futures application |
9th grade: build a strong start
- Grades count from day one. Colleges and Bright Futures look at the high school GPA from 9th grade on, so a weak first year is hard to fix later.
- Algebra 1: Florida students must pass the Algebra 1 end-of-course exam to graduate, and it counts for 30% of the course grade. If Algebra 1 feels shaky, get help early.
- Start a world language. Bright Futures and Florida’s public universities expect two years of the same language. Starting in 9th grade leaves room for a third year.
- Start service hours. Bright Futures requires 100 hours for the top award and 75 hours for the second award. Ask the school counselor which activities count and when hours can start: a few hours each month adds up.
- Try one or two activities your child enjoys. Depth over the years matters more than a long list.
- Free official links: Florida Virtual School (FLVS): online classes for when a course doesn’t fit the school schedule. Free for public school students; private school students pay tuition or can use a scholarship such as Step Up For Students · Florida Department of Education fact sheet on the Algebra 1 exam
10th grade: step up the challenge
- Grade 10 English exam: Florida students must pass the grade 10 English Language Arts state exam (or reach an equivalent SAT, ACT or CLT score) to graduate.
- Add honors, AP or dual enrollment classes where your child is ready. Florida’s public universities look closely at course rigor, and these classes raise the weighted GPA.
- Take the PSAT for practice. Many Florida schools offer it in 10th grade. It doesn’t count for National Merit yet, but it shows early strengths and weaknesses.
- Use free official practice: full-length tests in Bluebook and Khan Academy.
- Summer before 11th grade: a good time to start SAT preparation, before junior year gets busy.
- Free official links: Florida dual enrollment (free college classes during high school) · PSAT information from the College Board
11th grade: the testing year
- October: the PSAT that counts. Only the junior-year PSAT/NMSQT can qualify a student for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- Plan the SAT. About 10 weeks of steady preparation is ideal. Many students prepare over the winter, take the March SAT, and keep May or June for a retake.
- Know the Bright Futures targets. For the Class of 2028 (this year’s juniors), the SAT score needed is 1350 for Florida Academic Scholars (100% of tuition) and 1200 for Florida Medallion Scholars (75% of tuition), along with a 3.5 or 3.0 Bright Futures GPA and service hours. See SAT scores for Florida’s top 10 universities for how scores compare.
- Build the college list: a mix of “likely,” “target” and “reach” universities. Visit a few campuses if you can.
- AP exams in May: strong scores can earn college credit at Florida’s public universities.
- Summer before 12th grade: draft the college essay and ask two teachers for recommendation letters before school starts.
- Free official links: FloridaShines, Florida’s free college planning site, with a section for parents · National Merit Scholarship Corporation · AP Students for AP exam dates and past exam questions
12th grade: applications and scholarships
- August to September: finish the essay, confirm each university’s deadline and decide on an application plan (early or regular).
- October 1 to November 1: early deadlines at several Florida universities (for example, FSU’s early deadline is October 15 and UF’s is November 1). Our guide Your Last SAT Date for UF, FSU and Other Florida Universities shows which SAT still counts for each one.
- FAFSA: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens in the fall of senior year. File it early: many universities award their own aid first come, first served.
- Bright Futures application: complete the Florida Financial Aid Application during senior year, before graduation, and no later than August 31 after graduating. SAT scores still count for Bright Futures if earned by August 31 of the graduation year.
- Spring: compare admission offers and financial aid, and pick one university by its deposit deadline (usually May 1).
- Keep grades up. Universities see the final transcript, and admission offers can be withdrawn after a big drop.
- Free official links: Florida Financial Aid Application (Bright Futures) · FAFSA · Common App, used by many colleges, including the University of Miami and Rollins
How UKE Tutoring helps along the way
UKE Tutoring offers 1:1 online SAT, PSAT, ACT and HSPT prep, AP and math tutoring up to Multivariable Calculus, and college and scholarship advising, with tutors who attend top US universities. We work with families across South Florida (Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties) and beyond, since every session is online.
Not sure where your child should be right now? Text or WhatsApp Fred at (754) 707-1070 with your child’s grade and goals.
More free resources: South Florida Education Resources for Families.
Sources: Florida Statutes 1003.4282 (graduation requirements) · Florida Bright Futures · Federal Student Aid · National Merit Scholarship Corporation · College Board SAT dates
This timeline is for general information. UKE Tutoring is an independent tutoring service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any school district, university, the College Board or the Florida Department of Education. Requirements and deadlines change: always confirm with your child’s school counselor and each university.