THE ECHO

by Malak Marzak

Thoughts of senior year provoke stereotypical, Hollywood-style, depictions of the year before entering the real world; however, for some, the year is cut in half. Welcome the second and final round of the 2025 graduates. 

Every year, anywhere from 50 to 70 students, make the decision to graduate mid-year from Avon High School. They finish their high school experience at semester, and move on to the real world after December, an ever-approaching time frame. Each student has a copious number of reasons for their decision and has a staff at Avon ready to assist them.

“When you meet with your guidance counselor to plan for your senior year, your guidance counselor is going to look at your schedule and your credits and see where you are. Your parents have to sign off on it and your counselor has to sign off on it,“ said College Counselor, Jennifer Larson. 

Every student who has met the requirements is entitled to the decision to graduate early; however, it’s up to the students to choose whether they have a reason or motivation to take up the opportunity. 

“I want to go to college, and I have this fear of not being successful. I thought, if I graduate early, I can be prepared to go to college, and I can also work so I can have some money saved up and I won’t struggle as bad, ” said senior mid-year graduate, Marilyn Dodson. 

The students’ motivation isn’t the only determining factor on whether or not they will graduate early, they have to get the approval of their parents as well, per the criteria. Some of the students’ parents are far more approving than others and fully support their child’s decision, whereas others aren’t as fond. 

“They’re more ok with me graduating early and having a longer period in between high school and college, than me taking a gap year. I’d say they’re ok with it, but I wouldn’t say that they’re super happy because they want me to be included in those senior activities.” said senior mid-year graduate Emma Pike. 

With the mention of senior activities, many of the mid-year graduates interviewed felt as though they wouldn’t be missing out on those events due to Avon’s accommodations. 

“At Avon at least, you can still go to prom, and do senior events, you’re just not here,” said Dodson. 

Many of the experiences of the Mid-year grads are similar to full-year seniors. They have the same events and the same obligations that they are required to fulfill before they can walk the stage at graduation.  

“At the beginning of December, we have what’s called a mid-year graduate meeting and at that meeting we make sure their cap and gowns are ordered, they turn in their textbooks and laptops, and they need to turn in their parking pass, ” said Larson. “Most of them walk at graduation. As long as they meet their requirements, it hasn’t been a problem with them getting into a school.”