Las Vegas NowLas Vegas Celebrates Class of 2009

Las Vegas Celebrates Class of 2009

Now that the school year has ended for area high schools, graduating seniors are getting ready to walk with their classmates and celebrate a major milestone in their lives. A number of valley high schools are holding their graduation ceremonies this week.

Ceremonies are running throughout the day at UNLV's Thomas and Mac arena and at the Orleans Arena. Almost 17,000 students are expected to walk across the stage, with the most coming from Sierra Vista High School with a graduating class of 734. Centennial, Palo Verde, Coronado and Las Vegas High Schools all have over 600. On the other side of the class size spectrum, Indian Springs, Laughlin and Sandy Valley all have fewer than fifty graduates this year.

With high school now behind them, students are now looking forward to what's next.

"I plan to go to UNLV for Electrical Engineering," said Matthew Johnson, a Clark High School graduating senor.

Osman Valiente, another Clark High School senor, also plans on staying in Las Vegas, "I plan to go to UNLV and study fire science and become a firefighter."

An April report examining graduation rates in the countries biggest cities found Las Vegas had seen the largest drop from 68 percent in 1995 to 45 percent in 2005, while the average national rate climbed 5 percent.

Clark County's 2009 overall graduation rate is not yet available. However, the graduation rate for Valley High School increased 15 percent over last year. In fact, this year's class of 545 will be the largest in decades. The school traditionally has had one of the lowest graduation rates.

School officials are attributing this year's success to a pilot program called "Advanced Academic." The program was started If students fail or don't complete a class they can take it online or during the summer. The online component allows students to make up class work on their own schedule allowing them to complete all the requirements before graduation day arrives.

The program was put in place last January, and Valley High administrators say they plan to continue to offer the program for as long as possible. UNLV's Gear Up program provides grant funding for the program.