(Steve Berentson photo)
Hannah Smythe gives thumbs up to her classmate after "turning the tassel" on her graduation cap Wedndsday night at Anacortes High School's graduation ceremony. A substantial number of graduates are planning on attending a 4-year college.
When polled about their future plans, 77 percent of students in the Class of 2010 indicated they will attend four-year college, two-year college, vocational or tech school next fall. Anacortes High School Principal Pam Estvold reports that 44 percent of the students indicated plans to attend four-year college. Out of 183 graduates, 107 (58.5 percent) received at least one scholarship. Total scholarships among students this year exceeded $1 million. Students in this category have been accepted to 35 different universities.
Another 33 percent of the students said they will attend two-year college, vocational or tech school. There are 12 different schools cited among this group of students. Others indicated plans to pursue work, internship or Job Corps (7 percent); return as 5th year seniors (7 percent). Four percent are foreign exchange students; 3 percent cite plans to serve in the military and 2 percent said their plans are still in flux.
“The Class of 2010 is a diversely talented group of young adults,” said Estvold. “Not only have they competed academically, but they have held jobs, participated in the arts, athletics and career technical programs.” Estvold noted that 40 percent of the class enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Test results are still being tabulated for some 2010 grads, but to put things in perspective, last year’s AHS graduates saved $265,000 in college tuition by passing AP tests (175 tests last year, 265 this year).
“This is an important measure our students have taken to help meet today’s economic challenges,” said Estvold.
Note: Reproduced by permission from Currents, the Anacortes School District newsletter.