At the June 24 Board of Education meeting, Rye High Principal Patricia Taylor and Guidance Counselor Jim O’Hara gave a presentation detailing the results of this year’s college admissions data.

 

By Sarah Varney

At the June 24 Board of Education meeting, Rye High Principal Patricia Taylor and Guidance Counselor Jim O’Hara gave a presentation detailing the results of this year’s college admissions data. The good news is that 98 percent of the Class of 2014 is going to college, 95 percent to four-year institutions.

Class members submitted a total of 1,451 applications to 278 colleges and most students sent applications to seven or eight schools. There were 373 applications made under Early Action and 52 percent of these students were admitted. Seventy-five percent of those students who applied under Early Decision guidelines were admitted.

Eight students will attend four-year colleges abroad next year, including two at Trinity College in Dublin. Both last year and this, high school administrators have touted their success at getting more students into colleges farther afield than those they might have originally aimed for. “We’re pleased that they’re attending so many different colleges,” said Principal Taylor.

This year’s class had a higher than usual number of students who will attend specialized art and design schools, noted O’Hara. These graduates will attend Berklee School of Music, Rhode Island School of Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and Pratt Institute.

In addition to the glowing college admissions presentation, Superintendent Dr. Frank Alvarez handed out Awards of Excellence to members of the Rye High baseball team, along with members of the high school crew and golf clubs.

This year’s baseball team was the first regional championship team in RHS history, noted Dr. Alvarez. In addition to their play on the field, Dr. Alvarez noted that Athletic Director Rob Castagna received many positive comments from other team parents and coaches complimenting the players for their sportsmanlike demeanor off the field as well.

At the last Board meeting of the 2013-14 school year, returning member Karen Belanger and new member Blake Jines-Storey were sworn in. In addition, the Board voted unanimously to maintain Laura Slack and Katy Keohane Glassberg as president and vice president, respectively, for the 2014-2015 school year.