The Class of 2028 are now sophomores and have moved into the Raymore-Peculiar High School building. In 2023, Raymore-Peculiar School District opened their newest building, the Ninth Grade Center (NGC). The NGC provides a freshman only school to make the transition from middle school to high school smoother. Some students have mixed feelings about making the jump from the NGC to the High School.
Sophomore student Mia Dailey states, “I prefer the Ninth Grade Center for the social aspect because It was easier to communicate with others”.
While attending the NGC, students are able to spend their passing time in the large common areas. This provides students with time to socialize without disrupting learning. But, due to the small size of the school there is a limited number of classes you can take. Students that attend the high school you are able to take a variety of AP classes, electives, and more PE classes. This is beneficial for students looking to attend college and students that wish to learn more in- depth topics that they could potentially pursue in the future.
“I like the high school better because there are a lot more opportunities to meet new people and take harder classes. I also like being able to have classes with my upperclassmen friends”, states sophomore Drake Smith.
The High School has recently opened the LEAD Center and Integrated Learning House. This provides students more opportunities to get a jump start on their careers. The LEAD center helps students that want to pursue a career in carpentry, teaching, electrical studies, and more. Many students see this as a plus, but this might come off as intimidating to others.
Dailey states, “The High School is a lot more stressful as you are now rushing to try and plan out your future in the span of 4 years”.
Athletics are also being affected by the separation. Many freshman athletes are required to ride a shuttle bus to the high school for practices and games. This could put them at a disadvantage and might affect practice times. Freshman students are only able to enroll in a beginner-level weights class, while all high school student-athletes have the opportunity to take an Advanced Weights course. This class is meant to have a high intensity course and is specifically curated to high school athletes and will improve students’ performances on the court or field.
The separation between freshman and upperclassmen can bring its benefits and disadvantages. Students might have their own personal opinion on the separation but, both of the schools are great opportunities for students to learn more about themselves and help them discover their personal strengths and weaknesses.
