Kent ISD — MySchool@Kent had its largest graduating class to date this school year, due in part to the coronavirus pandemic, administrators say.
Recently, the hybrid online program offered by Kent ISD announced it had 157 students graduate, with a few more planning to finish up this summer.
“We have had more students each year, averaging about 80 to 100,” said MySchool@Kent counselor Deborah VanDyke. “We credit half of this year’s increase due to students moving to online learning because of the pandemic.” She said the rest of the increase comes from the steady growth from year to year.
Started in 2012, MySchool@Kent was developed by Kent ISD and local superintendents. Classes are taught online by certified teachers, and supplemented at the Kent Career Tech Center’s main campus on the East Beltline, and satellite locations around the county. Students typically have time with instructors twice a week, often at the main campus.
But like other area schools, MySchool@ Kent had to develop fully online programs this year that included tests that could be proctored online. Despite the changes, MySchool@Kent had an increased number of students taking advanced placement courses over the 2021-2020 school year.
“We are very proud of our students,” VanDyke said. “They persevered through the challenges and got things done.”
MySchool@Kent does not host a separate graduation ceremony. Instead, many of the students attend their home high school’s graduation.
