Students opt for graduating early and getting a jumpstart on their college careers.

Students who leave high school at 16 are usually considered dropouts. Many are. But there is another category: 16-year old high school graduates. These kids are on the fast track to receiving college degrees and professional success.

Most students spend four years in high school and then get jobs or head off to college. The 16-year old graduates get a ticket out when they take the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). Under California law, passing this test is equivalent to receiving a high school diploma. It is similar in format to the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), but with a longer exam and more difficult questions.

These students chose to take this path and leave school early. They have a few things in common: the desire to pursue a professional career as soon as possible, the freedom to learn at an individualized pace, and dissatisfaction with the high school environment.

SHEILA BAGHAEI
Sheila Baghaei was initially on track to graduate with the rest of the class of 2011, but left two years early.

“I wanted more time to focus on my performing arts career,” Baghaei said. “High school was getting in the way of my bigger picture. It was a commitment, eight hours a day, and five days a week.”

Baghaei’s parents were not as enthusiastic as she was about the idea.

“When my daughter first told me she wanted to become home schooled, I was skeptical,” said Baghaei’s mother, Afsaneh Shoustari. But Baghaei was persistent. She explained to her parents that even though she would be missing two years of high school, studying independently made the most sense for her future.

“After I was reassured that this is what she truly wanted and knew would be the right decision, we went ahead and made the step,” Shoustari said. “Not by luck, but by her hard work, we now know it was the right choice.”

At the end of her sophomore year, Baghaei signed up for homeschooling and doubled her workload. She was able to finish two years of schoolwork in nine months. Then she began taking community college courses. Currently, she is training as a vocalist and actress.

SARAH SAFUTO
Sarah Safuto, part of the class of 2011, transferred to Verdugo Academy, an independent study program sponsored by GUSD, during the end of her tenth grade year.

“I found that teaching myself was a fantastic choice,” Safuto said. “I started to enjoy what I was learning about instead of just going through the motions to get a grade.”

Although leaving early to take college courses makes sense for a few students, it is not for everyone. It requires maturity and time management skills. Unlike in high school, there is no pressure to complete assignments and study for tests.

“No one is there to baby you,” Safuto said. “Most people are not mentally or emotionally ready for that.”

LAURA BALTAYAN
While some students who graduate early typically do so to focus on future careers, like Sheila, others simply want to learn at their own pace, like Laura Baltayan.

“During my freshman and sophomore years I took college classes and really enjoyed them,” Baltayan said. “I wanted to give myself more time to explore career options.”

She appreciated how college professors provided course material and how the student is responsible for learning and doing well on tests. She will be going to UC San Diego as a junior this fall.

“I am right on target for achieving my goal and am exactly two years ahead of where I would have been if I had remained in high school,” Baltayan said.