Students cite several reasons for falling behind

Terry Webster

Friday, May 18, 2001 | 4:57 a.m.

Clark County School District officials say there is a simple way for students not to fall behind on credits needed for graduation: Come to school and do the work.

However, several seniors interviewed at Clark High School said it doesn't always work out that way.

The students all lacked needed courses and all have taken advantage of programs the district offers to make up work.

Jose Aguilar and Greg Cowan said they goofed off during their freshman and sophomore years. They were able to make up the work after school and through the credit-by-exam program in which students may receive full credit for a course by passing a test that measures their knowledge of the subject matter.

Brittany Zahart said she lacks credits because of an injury.

"I'm taking summer school, early bird, late bird (classes before and after school) and right now I'm going to Sunset (alternative night school)," Zahart said. "The reason I'm credit deficient is that I got in an accident, and I couldn't come to school last year."

Portia Logan said she missed a lot of school for health reasons and a family move to California.

"Earlier this year, I moved to California, and then I moved back," Logan said. "I wasn't there long enough to receive credit there."

Stan Rice admitted he skipped school often to hang out with friends.

"My biggest problem was absences," Rice said.

He is back for his fifth year of high school -- as a second-year senior -- to make up the work.

Several students said jobs affected their attendance because it is hard to get up early after working late the night before.

Summer school is not always an option because of the cost. The district offers it, but Clark seniors said they have paid up to $400 because it costs $90 for each half credit.

"It's fine if you can afford to pay for them,' Logan said. "In my situation, summer school is hard because I have to take care of my little sister."

Students who need the extra services are often the ones who can't afford them, district officials said.

Dustin Lopez said he lost all of his credits for his first semester as a freshman after a family moved to California.

"I went to summer school all summer, and I took a class in the morning and a class in the evening,' he said. "I volunteered, and I got credit for that, for teaching kids to fish. I've been doing that for awhile. And I went to an after-school class."

Looking back, most of the students said they just didn't comprehend the importance of their education earlier.

"I wish someone would have pulled me aside and really told me how important this is," Lopez said.