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By JUSTIN PEEPER
About 67 percent of seniors who graduated from Wells County's three public high schools this spring say they will attend college this fall.
More than 40 percent say they will attend a four-year college, while 23 percent plan to study at a two-year college or enter a technical, trade, associate or vocational education program.
The News-Banner spoke with guidance department officials at each public high school and received information on 372 seniors from the Class of 2008.
Of those 372 graduates, approximately 164, or 44 percent, plan to attend a four-year college this fall.
Wells County’s top graduates are all expected to attend college in Indiana.
Kelsey Crowe, the valedictorian from Bluffton High School, will study computer graphics technology at Purdue University. Salutatorian Angie Smith will study biology at Butler University.
Southern Wells’ valedictorian Shawn Longenberger plans to attend Grace College to study education or counseling. Salutatorian Josh Lavanchy will study civil engineering at Purdue University.
From Norwell, Grant Bucher will study engineering at Purdue University while Jacqueline Cossairt will study photography and imaging at Indiana University.
Approximately 84 graduates, or 23 percent of the total graduates, say they will attend a two-year college or pursue a technical, associate, trade or vocational degree.
Approximately 101 students, 27 percent, are expected to enter the workforce or fill their time with something else.
About 23 graduates, 6 percent, have plans to join the military.
The results are similar to a survey The News-Banner conducted last year at this time, but fewer students are expected to attend four-year colleges this fall.
In 2007, The News-Banner received information on 364 graduates, and about 77 percent of those seniors planned to attended college.
Approximately 204, or 56 percent, planned to attend a four-year college. Approximately 77 graduates, or 21 percent, said they would attend a two-year college, pursue a technical or vocational degree or enter into an apprenticeship last year.
Sixty-six students, 18 percent, said they would enter the workforce, and about 17 graduates, 5 percent, had plans to join the military.
The number of Wells County seniors planning to attend college this fall is slightly lower than the 2006-2007 state average.
Nearly 85 percent of seniors across the state in the 2006-2007 school year indicated they would enroll in a four-year, two-year or technical college, according to the most recent Indiana Department of Education statistics.
Approximately 75 percent of Indiana high school graduates were pursuing a college education in 2005-2006, according to data from the Indiana Department of Education Web site.
Last year, 75 percent of graduates decided to stay in Indiana for college.
When calculating this year’s percentages, The News-Banner rounded up, and a margin of error exists.
School officials said the numbers could change at any time because students sometimes change their plans.
jdpeeper2@hotmail.com