Mountain Lakes presents class of 2026 post‑secondary outcomes; 87% reported heading to four‑year colleges

District counseling staff presented a summary of post‑secondary outcomes for the class of 2026 at the Mountain Lakes Board meeting in June 2026, emphasizing consistency in application and enrollment patterns despite the district's small size.

The counselor reported that 87% of students in the class of 2026 are headed to four‑year colleges and that the high school enrolled graduates at 77 different colleges across 21 states. "87% of students in the class of 2026 are off to 4 year colleges," the presenter said. The school reported a 56% overall acceptance rate and described an average of about 10 applications per student.

Early‑decision activity was summarized: 38 students applied early decision (28% of the class); the district reported 23 early‑decision acceptances overall and an overall early‑decision acceptance rate of roughly 50% for those pools combined. The presenter noted a rebound in standardized testing submission (an 11% rise nationally in students reporting a test score, the presenter said) and described admissions volatility at selective public flagships.

Enrollment highlights included multiple Ivy acceptances and 4 students committing to Division I athletics and 14 to Division III programs. The presenter and board discussed ways to contextualize percentages for a small cohort (a change of one or two students can shift rates), and the counselor offered to supply more granular breakdowns on request.

Board members thanked counseling staff for the report and noted interest in follow‑up details on school climate and targeted supports for different grade bands. The district said additional detail and comparisons (including national benchmarks available through Panorama) will be provided in future briefings.