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Counselors report most of Hastings Highs class of 2024 chose four-year colleges; FAFSA delays affected some families
Summary
The board heard a "Future Steps" presentation showing that most of Hastings High School's 136 graduates are headed to four-year colleges, with a decline in out-of-state public college attendance and several students taking gap years; counselors noted FAFSA delays affected some decisions.
The Board received the counseling offices "Future Steps" report for the class of 2024, presented remotely by Dr. Shysmanski, who said the majority of the districts 136 graduates will attend four-year colleges. The data showed a marked drop in students attending out-of-state public institutions (30 in 2023 down to 17 in 2024) and an increase in those heading to private out-of-state colleges.
Dr. Shysmanski noted other outcomes: three students moving directly into employment, one into a vocational program, six taking gap years, and one still unknown; she also highlighted a slight increase in the number of applications submitted and a stable acceptance rate in early rounds. The counseling office flagged FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) system delays this year as a factor that influenced families' timelines and led some colleges to extend deposit deadlines.
Board members and parents asked about tracking retention and college graduation rates; administrators said they will explore whether longer-term outcomes (retention, graduation) can be tracked to measure the quality of the college match. The counseling office stressed authenticity in application essays and noted that institutions are increasingly looking for a strong match rather than a single set of metrics.
Next steps: the counseling office will continue to monitor outcomes and said it will try to provide additional data on retention and longer-term college outcomes if available.
