Now or Later

After four years of tiresome teachers, early mornings and all-nighters, seniors finally get to graduate. Although it's customary to attend high school for four years, some juniors join the herd of seniors and graduate early.

These past few years, graduating early has become more popular. Juniors who earn enough credits and want to take their senior year off, or who want to start their college career early, can accompany seniors with their goodbye to high school, or stay to enjoy their fourth and final year of privileges.

Cynthia Sell, director of communications at the Clark County School District, said graduating early has grown in popularity because of block scheduling. If students have eight classes a year, they can earn 32 credits by senior year, so by many students' junior years, they're ready to graduate.

"Kids (graduate early) for all different reasons," Sell said. "Some do it for family problems or circumstances in the home, and some are mature for their age and just want to move on to their next chapter."

Alvin Chan, a junior at Palo Verde High School, said he plans to graduate early because he wants to broaden his horizons.

"I want to go to college earlier and move on with my life outside of high school," Chan said. "I feel as if I'm ready to go ahead with my life and not be tied down in Las Vegas, so I'm really excited."

Chan added that he's not worried about being prepared for college because he took advanced-placement classes.

AP classes are just one of the many ways students prepare for college. Schools repeatedly tell students they need at least 16 to 24 credits to graduate. AP classes, which are college-level classes, help students because not only do they count as college credits, but they help get students ready for the college experience.

Another way to prepare students is online high school. Internet classes are popular for extra class credits or to be placed in a higher class the next year. Summer school also is an option.

But keeping up with classes isn't the only concern for students looking to graduate early. Social life factors in as well.

"I'll miss hanging out with all of my friends, and I'll have to graduate with a bunch of people I don't know, which will be weird," Chan said. "But it's all worth it."

Leaving high school early is an alternative for some, but for others, such as Kelly Boghossian, a senior at Cimarron-Memorial High School, senior year is important.

"I thought about graduating my junior year, but I really wanted to stay with my friends and get to experience all of my senior perks, like walking at my graduation ceremony and senior prom," Boghossian said. "It's a scary thought. I mean, what if you're a junior who graduates and goes on to have a great freshman year in college, but you find out you're unprepared and want to go home?"

Still, finishing high school early is useful for some students, Sell said.

"For kids who utilize it, I think graduating early can be beneficial," she said. "The ones who choose to graduate are usually more mature and want to bring a close to a chapter and move on."

It's a difficult call on whether juniors are ready for college or if they need that extra year to prepare for what's to come.

"I think I'm as ready as I'd be if I stayed for my senior year," Chan said. "I'm prepared and excited to meet new people and move away from home."

Boghossian disagreed.

"If you think you're ready to go to college as a junior, which I thought I was, then go for it," she said. "But another year at home couldn't hurt. That's why I eventually decided not to go to college early."