Going from just being a kid to having all of the responsibilities of an adult can be difficult. For some students, graduating early is seen as a great way to prepare for the responsibilities after high school life. However, OHS seniors do not graduate early like the districts surrounding OHS. The money that the school district makes from attendance of students takes priority over letting the seniors have extra time to prepare for their futures. 

“I feel like seniors should be able to graduate earlier to set up their plans for their future: figure out living, costs and insurance and all things that most people have to understand before they start their life after high school,” Colin McCabe (12) said. 

Some seniors think that the more time they spend preparing for their future, the better. Spending time with people who have that experience or even are in the same situation may benefit them. 

“It allows us to have more time to enjoy summer without family and friends before we leave for college. For some, it allows them to start work programs sooner, like those doing union jobs or something like that,” Seckman High School student Emma Donze (12) said. 

Some of the schools surrounding OHS have different graduation times. For example, at Seckman High school (Fox School District), the graduation day for seniors is on May 11. The last day of school for the rest of the students isn’t until almost two weeks later. 

“That is the district’s decision. I know that it is related to funding that we get when students are in attendance, but that is a district-level decision, not a building level decision,” senior principal Dana Skrabacz said. 

Knowing that seniors would enjoy an earlier graduation time, Skrabacz, if it were in her hands, would change this late graduation time. Seniors could have more opportunities in the extra two weeks given. Many students express that the district should rethink this graduation date. 

“I think seniors at our school don’t get out early due to attendance and funding…” Graduation Committee member Alexis Caldwell said  “…I would like for them to have an earlier graduation so that they can participate in more events, like a graduation practice and things like that.”