Preparation for 2027 early graduation starts now

For most CFHS students, this Tuesday, Jan. 20 will kick off the start of the second semester. But for the 37 seniors participating in the early graduation program, it is the start of life after high school.

At Cedar Falls High School, early graduation is accessible to any student who is interested and can complete all of their required credits by the end of the first semester of their senior year. One of the school counselors, Carrie Dieken, who works regularly with early grads, explained that the process of graduating early is not as complicated as students would expect. 

“The only thing is looking at the schedule very carefully to make sure that all of those requirements are met in their first semester,” she said. “The only credit that we have eight full semesters of is English, so they may have to double up.”

She explained that the best time to start planning for early graduation is second semester junior year, so students hoping to graduate early in 2027 should reach out to their counselors as soon as possible. 

To start the early grad process, juniors should schedule a meeting with their counselor to express interest in early graduation. At that meeting their counselor will help them to fill out and submit an application that must be approved by administrators, and will look at the student’s senior year schedule to arrange that they meet all of their credit requirements on time. 

There are many reasons why a student may choose to graduate early- and it is a better fit for some than others. When considering if a student is a good fit for early graduation, Dieken takes many factors into consideration. 

“Here’s what I would look at if I was talking with a student who was interested in early graduation,” she said. “In terms of maturity level, are you ready to be done with high school, do you have family support at home, and do you have access to employment, education, or whatever it is you plan to do.”

Dieken said that some students who graduate early go straight to the work force, some start the spring semester at Hawkeye or another college, and some students have even graduated early to begin spring training at schools where they were offered sports scholarships. When meeting with their counselors, juniors will also discuss why early graduation would be a good fit for them, and discuss a plan for life after high school.

These aren’t the only options after high school though. Several students, including senior Georgia Vlasak, graduated early and enrolled in outside programs or schools, such as Capri College in Waterloo. Vlasak is one of this year’s 37 early graduates, and plans to attend Capri to become a licensed esthetician.

“I believe it is an amazing choice if you have a strong goal in mind and want to get started with your life right away,” she said. “It gives you time to have a head start from your classmates.”

Vlasak said that while it was hard to leave her friends behind, she is excited to begin esthetics school and start her new life.

One final misconception students may have is that signing up to graduate early means walking away from Cedar Falls High School at the end of first semester and not looking back. In reality, students who graduate in the fall can still choose to attend prom in the spring, and may walk at commencement with their classmates at the end of the year, as they are receiving the same diploma as everyone else. When it comes to the choice of whether to graduate early, it truly depends on every student and the unique path they wish to take.