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Opp, County schools will follow state’s advice, ACS does not opt-in

Seniors in Covington County Schools and Opp City Schools have completed their school year and are now considered graduates.

State School Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey and the state task force gave superintendents the directive that a high school senior who is considered in good standing and on track to graduate at the end of the third nine weeks was eligible to be declared a graduate.

Covington County Schools Superintendent Shannon Driver and Opp City Schools Superintendent Michael Smithart both followed the state’s advice and their seniors are done with high school.

The decision is up to each individual school system.

Andalusia City Schools Superintendent Ted Watson said ACS had opted not to do that.

Watson explained that Andalusia City Schools curricula requires seniors to earn 29 credits, which is five over the state’s 24.

“What we are looking at here is getting to a normal end of the school year,” he said. “Since we require 29 credits to graduate, we are going to opt to ride out the year.”

Watson said the reasoning is to make sure that all students are able to complete their classes to set them up to be successful when they go on to the next step in life.

Additionally, Andalusia High School students are on block schedules, which means they have only complete half of the courses for the year.