GRADUATION: For the first time in Poly High School history, the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) plans to pay for senior expenses.
By Valeria Carrillo, Opinions Editor
From awkward freshmen to sluggish sophomores and challenged juniors, the class of 2015 has finally made it through high school. After three years, seniors have grown accustomed to a yearly routine. However, this year, everything will change. Seniors no longer have to say goodbye to their good upperclassmen friends only to return to a seemingly empty school the next fall. Instead, seniors must say goodbye to each other and take off into the world. But first, a few payments must be made in order to make their final year memorable.
A majority of seniors pay for Advanced Placement (AP) tests along with senior pictures, yearbooks, dances, clothes, graduation invitations, senior gear, sports games and tassels—what a hassle. If seniors wish to purchase their cap, gown and prestigious tassel, the price will range from $40 to $60. Although the maximum of $60 does not seem costly, after multiple AP tests ($89 per test) and a few checks signed off toward prom, the bills start to add up. Luckily, this year, RUSD compassionately offered to pay for the caps, gowns and tassels used at graduation as well as AP tests for the upperclassmen taking the respective classes.
As a senior currently enrolled in three AP classes, both my parents and I are more than thrilled with the district’s new use of its budget. Considering that I am one of 616 seniors currently enrolled at Poly, paying for every student’s cap and gown will not be cheap. About 90% of the seniors are expected to graduate (approximately 554 students); therefore, the cost of all of those caps and gowns will amount to about $22,160. On top of this, the cost of the AP tests will add up to one of the biggest expenses since all four classes (freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior) take these exams, and more often than not, take more than one. With all of these expenses, the cost will be, more or less, multiplied by six as RUSD contains six high schools within its district. Paying for these extra items assists students financially, but it may take away from the amount of money each high school receives for other activities. Regardless, the changes are worth the price since education is most important.
This year, approximately 54% of Poly students qualify for free/reduced lunch (California Department of Education) which also gives discounts on AP tests, bringing the cost of each test down to five dollars. RUSD emphasizes the idea that every student is given an equal opportunity to graduate and achieve beyond it. Unfortunately, the concept of free/reduced lunch was unfair to the students who did not qualify for it because their parent(s) have an income that barely passed the limit and will struggle with costly AP tests and senior luxuries. By agreeing to pay for every necessity and luxury for the year of 2014-2015, the district is leveling out the playing field for students who wished to take AP classes but could not afford the tests.
In their freshman year, the class of 2015 was gifted with a lower credit requirement and no health class requirement. With the announcement of the district paying for AP tests, caps and gowns, the lucky class of ‘15 could not have been more fortunate, even if patches of four-leaf clovers sprung in every lawn at Poly. There is no grander graduation present from the district than the outfit each senior will wear when walking to receive his or her diploma and entering into the outside world. In order to allow more students to focus on school instead of money, RUSD should continue to pay for the caps and gowns of each graduating student, thus creating blissful memories instead of financial strain.