Rustin Grads are First of WCASD to Get Diplomas

Ready or not here comes the Class of 2013, newly-minted graduates of Bayard Rustin High School.

High winds and light breezes blew during the nearly two hour ceremony as 336 graduates listened to speeches and waited for the moment when their names would be called and they would become official graduates of Rustin High School.

This year's was the school's sixth commencement since the founding class of 2007-2008's graduation.

West Chester Area School District Superintendent James Scanlon told the graduates "you are the real report card for our schools." Scanlon told the sea of blue and gold-wearing seniors that 8 out of 10 WCASD graduates eventually move back to the area to live, work and raise families" in part because of the quality of the school system.  He said Rustin ranks in the top five percent of public high schools in the nation.

Out of the Rustin High School Class of 2013 Scanlon says:

• 2% Plan to start working
• 3% Plan to join the U.S. Armed Forces
• 95% Pln to attend a 2 or 4 year college.

Two more WCASD High School graduations will be held this week.

• Henderson High School's graduation ceremony is Wednesday at 6 p.m.
• East High School's graduation ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.

Both schools' ceremonies are planned as outdoor events. In case of bad weather the ceremonies would be moved indoors and families would be limited to two spectator tickets in the venue, with additional family and friends moved to other rooms to watch live on closed circuit TV.