The "Bottom 25" Celebration

Every May most high schools in America have a Top 25 Banquet, where they recognize the academic achievements of the top of the graduating class. I applaud these students as they have worked extremely hard for their GPA and class Rank. These students are not without their challenges, and I would encourage you to read the book The Overachievers, by Alexandra Robbins.

Some may wonder whatever happens to the "Bottom 25" students in a graduating class. While most people never think of it (maybe because they don't know those students or because they have a preconceived notion that they have already dropped out) I think of it often, because I work in a school where most of those bottom 25 students come to graduate. They are in the "Bottom 25" because their GPA's have slipped or their family and personal issues have overtaken them, not because they are not smart. This year we are bragging because our students' state standardized testing passing percentage was higher than the students who took it in the main building. We hope the trend continues.

What I want to share with you are some "Bottom 25" stories. Names and minor details have been changed so I may publish this. The stories are told about students who graduated- they made it, and didn't drop out.

#20-25- These are the kids that squeaked by. Jenny and John got kicked out of their homes at the end of their junior year. They were only 17, but were told they were no longer welcome at their parents' house. They couch surfed. They also made bad decisions that contributed to their being kicked out. The pain in families goes both ways between parents and students. These kids graduated because the teachers in our building care. My principal may pick up a kid during the last week of school if they haven't shown up in awhile so they can finish their online course, or take the "one more test" they need to pass to get the D-. These are the students we as a staff cry about on our celebration day. These are the kids who are reunited with their parents on that day too. It is truly a happy day for everyone.

#15-19- These students had teen moms. They were born when their parents were 15, 16, or 17. Their parents were never taught how to parent, so they were spoiled.  Jackie and Joe battled the teachers for two years on giving up their cell phones during tests, sneaking out for lunch when they did not have permission, and wandering in and out of the classrooms without permission because, "you can't make me do anything."  These students finally graduate and we are sometimes scared for them. Are they going to be able to keep a job because they argue with their employer or don't want to do assigned tasks on the job?

#10-14- These students were on probation or had a parent in jail. They or their parents dealt drugs and couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop. Didn't know how to stop. Their parents were always distracted by their own habits and couldn't take care of them when they were little. They spent many years at grandma's house, in fact, most of their years until they graduated. Finally, senior year, they were not on probation any more. They were able to find a summer job, but didn't know what their next step would be. Maybe the military if their court record didn't include a federal felony.

#5-9- These students had to work a full time job their senior year to pay rent and gas money. These were are "hard workers." They were going to graduate no matter what it took. Most of them came in determined to finish classes early, and early they did! They needed the money. Most of them continued to work and enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College for the fall. These kids are going to be just fine in life. They wanted to start a new pattern for their lives and break from the old.

#1-4- These are my heroes. They had a child in 10th or 11th grade, but they still wanted to get their diploma, so they came to our alternative school where we had a nursery and child care workers to take care of their kids while they were in classes.  Some of these parents have maintained a relationship with the child's father, while others have not worked out, but they persevered. I think of a girl in particular whose baby brightened the day of the other students by smiling and waving at them when she was waiting for school to start. At the end of the day, everyone crowded around her to see her baby and get a hug. These girls get a job and are often able to get daycare vouchers to help after graduation.

This is a sampling of our students. We take care of them the best we can. We have other students who have battled a physical illness or mental illness which prevented them from attending school every day who graduated. Our celebrations are family celebrations, and we love it when students come back to visit us to let us know how they are doing. Congratulations to the Class of 2016!