Nevada State High School, a school that allows juniors and seniors in high school to earn up to two years of college credits for free, will graduate 92 students – an almost unheard of graduation rate of 100 percent of its senior class – at its graduation ceremony this Saturday, May 29.
The ceremony will take place from 2-4 p.m. at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall – located at 4505 Maryland Parkway, near East Harmon Avenue in Las Vegas.
Through NSHS, these graduates have had the opportunity to attend college for free. NSHS has also helped them successfully integrate into the college lifestyle by transitioning them personally, academically and socially.
Students who attend NSHS receive dual credit – high school and college credit – for the college courses they take at local colleges or the university. For example, while many high school students can earn college credit – in addition to high school credit – for passing their AP final with a score their future college is willing to accept, NSHS students actually attend college courses, for college credit, and NSHS gives the students high school credit for the college courses they have taken.
“We’re proud of our seniors,” said Dr. Wendi Hawk, principal of NSHS. “We’ve created a challenging educational environment for them, and they’ve met or exceeded all of our expectations. They’re proof of what students can do when more is expected of them.”
NSHS’s overall graduation rate (since graduating its first class in 2005) is 98.42 percent, and its student/teacher ratio is 13-1.
Current sophomores and juniors enrolled at Clark County public and private schools are eligible to apply to NSHS to begin classes fall 2010. Once accepted into the school, NSHS works with students on their college curriculum and personally enrolls students into college courses that work together with their respective CCSD high school coursework in order for students to receive dual credit for both high school and college courses. NSHS also works with students to keep them active in their zoned high school’s extracurricular activities to ensure that students don’t miss out on traditional high school experiences.
Since opening its doors, NSHS has graduated more than 300 students. For more information on Nevada State High School call 702-953-2600 or visit www.earlycollegenv.com.
