CHUGWATER — Sophomore Sabryna Schaffer, of Chugwater, is hoping to graduate a year early from high school, just like her mother did before her, but is facing an uphill battle to receive permission from the Platte County School District No. 1 Board of Education.
Schaffer hopes to one day be a forensic scientist, a career goal that can take up to 12 years of higher education to accomplish.
“It would be great to get an early start,” Schaffer explained.
Right now she is finishing up her sophomore year. She plans on taking an English class over the summer (to fulfill her required four years of English) and then finishing all of her requirements to graduate in spring of 2019 — a year early. She then plans to attend the University of Nebraska for her bachelor’s degree and get her master’s degree at Purdue University in Indiana. Chugwater Principal Tom Waring supports her goal and has been helping her align her classes to meet the requirements.
The school board was impressed by Schaffer’s efforts, but concerned about her youth and inexperience to handle such a demanding field of study in college. The board was also concerned that graduating high school with the bare minimum of classes was not a great way to start an academic career.
“You’re just not prepared to go yet, you need more advanced science classes before going to college,” Bob Catchpole, school board treasurer, said. “You’re going to be overwhelmed.”
Catchpole went on to explain that taking college level courses while still in high school would better prepare Schaffer for the future than graduating early. However, Schaffer has been trying to do just that and has not been able to accomplish it. She keeps getting blocked based on the fact that she lives in Chugwater and the school there is not equipped to help her. She has also tried to go through Eastern Wyoming College distance learning classes, and has not been able to make that work either. At this point, she feels her only option is to graduate early so she can finally get the education she desires.
Schaffer’s grandmother was in attendance at the meeting and feels that Schaffer is being penalized because she lives in Chugwater and doesn’t have access to all the benefits that students in Wheatland have. Superintendent Dennis Fischer recognizes the discrepancy in the schools, but stressed that Schaffer could take UW classes by video in Wheatland for free if she were to just drive up.
The school board also brought up the difficulty in securing scholarships if Schaffer decides to pursue this avenue, but the University of Nebraska has already promised a level of support. Plus, she isn’t eligible for the Hathaway Scholarship since she is going out of state. The University of Wyoming doesn’t offer a forensic science degree, only criminal justice.
The board also mentioned a student the previous year who had requested to graduate early and had assured them she planned on continuing her education. But after her request was granted, she changed her mind and did not pursue an advanced degree. Board members are reluctant to do that again.
All was not lost. The board members decided to table their vote until August. They instructed Schaffer to finish the English class she needs over the summer break and take the ACT test.
“Prove us wrong. Come back with a good ACT score,” said board member Travis Lockman. “Work hard, do quality work and show us what you can do.”
