She has already received her admission letter to Arizona State University, where she plans to major in business next school year. As for the rest of this year, she'll continue to avoid the graduation countdowns written on the boards in two of her classrooms - not because she's not thinking about the end of the year, but because not looking at the numbers makes them go down faster. And she's not alone. Teachers and administrators from Mesa to Maryvale know their students will try to check out early, so they prepare for the mental exodus by scheduling events, projects and activities to fill in the last days of the semester. Charles Santa Cruz, principal at Gilbert High and the Gilbert Unified School District spokesman, said he encourages his teachers to keep the end of April and beginning of May thick with due dates.
Educators know that young people get a little antsy in the spring, particularly seniors.
Most colleges grant admission that's contingent on the student's final transcript, which should show the student graduated and got good grades, said Ellen Norton, guidance counselor and scholarship adviser at Mountain Pointe High in Ahwatukee Foothills. Norton said it doesn't happen often, but some colleges can actually rescind admissions when a student's grades drop the last semester. He got in anyway, but it was a hassle that didn't need to happen. I do know it's a threat they have put out there pretty often. But when fear and projects don't keep students in class, schools have to dig deeper in their utility belts.