83% Of County Seniors College Bound

NEWARK - This year's
graduating seniors at Worcester County high schools were mostly satisfied with
their education, the annual senior survey shows.

The Worcester County
school board's annual survey of graduating seniors showed that 84 percent of
the nearly 400 graduates were 'satisfied or very satisfied' with the education
they got in Worcester County schools.

Thirteen percent of the
senior students surveyed this spring responded with 'neither satisfied nor
dissatisfied' with their education, while 4 percent were either 'dissatisfied
or very dissatisfied.'

In total, 341 senior
high school students were surveyed this spring before graduation.

The Board of Education
has been conducting the senior survey for several years.

'They're very consistent
findings,' said Tom Mascara, technology coordinator with the county school
system.

Most graduating seniors,
85 percent, had attended Worcester schools since at least middle school, which
helps keep test scores high, Mascara said.

The majority of the
seniors surveyed, 88 percent, reported that they were able to enroll in most or
all of the courses they wanted over their school career.

Sixty percent of the
students surveyed planned to attend a four-year college. Twenty-three percent
planned to go on to a two-year college. Five percent of the students surveyed
planned to enter the full-time work force, and 5 percent planned to enter the
military after graduation.

The survey recorded the
highest levels of course or program satisfaction with social studies, science
and the guidance department.

'As far as I know, we're
the only school system in Maryland who surveys our seniors, our customers, and
asks how well we're doing,' said Worcester County Superintendent of Schools Dr.
Jon Andes.

A lot of businesses,
such as hotels and restaurants, survey their patrons after service, Andes
pointed out.

The Worcester County
school system uses the information generated by the annual senior survey as
part of the accreditation for growth process, Andes said.

The school board and
school principals also use the information gathered in the survey for planning
and to improve school programs.

'I think this is
valuable information,' said Board member Doug Dryden.