A healthy 87 percent of the graduates are going on to college, according to the guidance department.
NORTHAMPTON - What a difference four years makes. As she prepared her remarks for Sunday’s graduation ceremonies, Northampton High School senior Johanna M. Fleming remembered when school administrators called the Class of 2011 into the auditorium during their freshman year.
“They said they were disappointed in our achievement and that we were not living up to our potential,” said Fleming, who was co-president of the class along with senior Emily King.
The group of students quickly put that reputation behind them. With their diplomas in hand Sunday, many of them will be off to top colleges. Having overcome low expectations, they had one last obstacle in their way: A tornado on prom night that forced some of them to walk to the Log Cabin Restaurant.
“I was really upset,” Fleming said. “It ruined our prom, kind of.”
Wyckoff County Club in Holyoke came to the rescue, however, offering to serve up a post-graduation ice cream bar to the students. Fleming expects it to be a peaceful and pleasant anti-climax to an eventful four years.
A slightly bigger class than usual graduated from Northampton High School Sunday. The 235 graduating seniors number about 25 more than usual, according to Principal Nancy Athas. The graduates not only worked their way into a wealth of good colleges, they also made their mark on society.
“This is a class that was dedicated to academics and to the community,” Athas said. “They strived to do their best and gave back when needed and when asked. It’s a nice bunch of graduating seniors.”
A healthy 87 percent of the graduates are going on to college, according to the guidance department.
The overwhelming majority are also hometown kids, with just one percent School Choice students. In keeping with custom, the Class of 2011 does not have a valedictorian or salutatorian, but Fleming, King and several other seniors were scheduled to speak.