Students from 16-Buffalo Public high schools proudly wore caps & gowns for a district-wide graduation ceremony at McKinley High School Friday morning.
86-students received their diplomas after a successful summer school session.
“Honestly, this is my favorite graduation of the year. These kids have persevered all summer long – worked so hard to be here today,” declared Anne Botticelli, Buffalo Schools Chief Academic Officer.
Botticelli tells WBFO News students had some course work and regents challenges, but completed the work successfully.
“In some cases it was simply course work that they needed to make up, but in many cases it was regents exams, so they worked really hard this summer preparing for those particular assessments just to be able to make sure they were able to hit the right targets,” Botticelli explained.
Botticelli said some of these graduates will be heading to college or directly into a job, others will still determine what is next.
McKinley principal Marck Abraham talked proudly of the students’ summer-time achievement.
“Although they didn’t make it in June, they worked really hard to get to this point to graduate. We are really proud of all the students throughout Buffalo Public schools,” Abraham said.
Abraham noted McKinley's graduation rate is climbing. Five McKinley students were among the summer-time graduates.
The city district experienced an increase in 2017 graduation rates. It was 63 percent last year. It’s expected new graduation rates for 2018 will be released by the end of the month by the New York State Education Department.
State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia, State Regent representative Catherine Collins and Buffalo Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash were among education dignitaries on hand for Friday’s graduation ceremony.
