Nearly 10,000 GCPS Students Graduate This Week

In Gwinnett County, 9,843 students are expected to graduate from the county's 21 public high schools.

This year's graduating class, described as the largest ever according to Gwinnett County Public Schools, was also an accomplished according to CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks.

“As a community, we can be proud of these students and what they have achieved during their academic careers," Wilbanks said in a released statement.

"We are especially pleased with the number of Gwinnett graduates who earned their place among the country’s most prestigious academic ranks, including 10 National Merit Scholars (and there may be more), 15 National Achievement Scholars, and 26 Georgia Scholars. Full-tuition grants were awarded to 11 Gates Millennium Scholars and three Questbridge Scholars. Congratulations to these and all of the graduates in the Class of 2012!”

The 2012 graduation is Wednesday, May 23 at 4 p.m., seniors graduate on Thursday, May 24 at 8 p.m. Graduation ceremonies for both schools will be held at the Gwinnett Center arena in Duluth on Sugarloaf Parkway.

According to GCPS, 86 percent of graduating students plan to continue their education by attending college or postsecondary schools. This year's graduating class has been offered more than $101 million in scholarships with the majority -- $67.8 million -- awarded for academic achievement (not including HOPE or Gates Millennium Scholarships).

Student athletes earned more than $28.7 million in athletic scholarships, and 13 seniors earned more than $5 million in military academy appointment scholarships.
 
This year's graduating class also includes 2,050 honor graduates who will graduate with a grade percentage average of 90 or higher.

Do you know someone graduating from high school or college this year? Congratulate them with a free Peachtree Corners Patch graduation announcement.