There are more than 1,600 high school juniors in Manteca Unified counting the days down to the end of May when they officially become seniors.

It also means “senioritis” — the all-too-real phenomenon of students in their senior year easing up on studies and even attendance on the assumption they earned the right to do so — will become an issue for many.

Seniors are often encouraged by parents “to take it easy and enjoy” their final year of high school.

It is strange advice considering the effectiveness of the $14,000 annual cost of teaching a student is severely diluted and risks parents incurring out-of-pocket costs such as their child may need to take additional courses at the community college level to be eligible for college.

“‘Senioritis’ is something people often talk about informally, but from a school system perspective, we take it seriously because it can impact a student’s transition into their next step, whether that’s college, career, of technical training,” noted Clara Schmiedt, senior director of secondary education for the Manteca Unified School District.

High school educators point out disengagement late in the senior year doesn’t just effect grades. It also impacts:

*college eligibility.

*A-G course completion that is a prerequisite for California State University and University of California admission that — if not completed in high school — would need to be done as a community college.

*college and career readiness.

“Every course and every grading period matters,” Schmiedt said.

Schmiedt pointed out giving into the temptation to slack off as a senior is far from only having a negative impact on college bound students.

Habits such as attendance, persistence, and follow through are critical traits for those entering the workforce or post-secondary training. Slipping into “senioritis” can tee up issues in securing and retaining initial jobs or even making the most effective use of post-secondary training and/or community college that cost students and/or parents money.

Schmiedt indicated students enrolled in a CTE discipline should endeavor to access and master classes at the high school level.

That allows them to get more out of post-secondary training/education in a particular field and to set the stage for better success .

Manteca Unified has crafted its Tier I instruction in a manner that assures meaningful engagement all the way through graduation.

That is reflected in requiring every senior to take an English core class and government or economics their senior year.

As such, it avoids situations where students are teaching assistants for three periods and take a period of physical education.

Such a strategy ensures “students see relevance in their learning, stay connected. And finish strong.”

High schools utilize Measures of Academic Progress — a state-aligned computer adaptive test that provides teaches with an overview of student progress to tailor learning in individual needs — classroom assessments, and site-level support such as counselors to intervene early if students begin to disengage.

“While ‘senioritis’ may sound like a seasonal issue,” Schmiedt said, “we view it as part of a broader responsibility to ensure every student leaves us truly prepared for what comes next.”

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com