Looking to the Future with Grayson High School

By Kristen Eleveld

Parents want their children to have a high school career that not only gives them a quality education, but also provides their students with the chance to discover and explore their passions. This may seem like a tall order, but for students at Grayson High School, it is a reality – one that is preparing them well for the future.

“There is a myriad of opportunities for the students here,” said Principal Dr. Dana Pugh, who has been at Grayson for nearly a decade. “Whether it’s performing arts, the sciences, or languages, every student has the chance to explore something new.”

Grayson’s career technical education program, or CTE, is designed to not only introduce students to new concepts and career options, but to give them real, hands-on experience that will give them practical skills for life after high school. A student might explore the veterinary sciences or work in the school’s culinary program. If you can think of a career or industry, you can probably find a program for it at Grayson High School.

Beyond the walls of the school itself, many students also take the opportunity to participate in an internship in the environment of their chosen career. This not only allows students to get applicable experience for the future, but it also allows them to determine if their area of study is the right fit, and how they can move forward if it is.

These class opportunities are not just limited to Grayson students, either. Students across the county can apply to be part of Grayson’s many technical programs, often spending part of the day on the Grayson campus and the rest on the campus of their district school. This means that anyone can be part of this multi-faceted learning experience.

As to why this program is so successful, Dr. Pugh credits the hard work of the many counselors and support staff working at Grayson to help students and teachers succeed.

“We’re trying to prepare these kids for the world they are going to inherit,” said Dr. Pugh. “And we do that without putting students in a box. They can explore their interests at school.”

Along with individual guidance for upperclassmen, the team at Grayson provides many avenues for every student to explore foreign languages, fine arts, and a variety of sciences. The school even offers kids the chance to earn college credit through Advanced Placement classes or take college courses through their dual enrollment partnerships with schools like Gwinnett Tech and Georgia Gwinnett College.

Grayson High School is proud to have a graduation rate of over 90%, a number that many high schools never get to see. Of course, Dr. Pugh and his team will not stop there. They are hoping to make that percentContinued on page 21