Arcadia High School Class of 2018 Hits Rare 100% Graduation Rate

ARCADIA, CA – Congratulations to the high-achieving, graduating class of Arcadia High School!

Arcadia High's Class of 2018 achieved a rare 100 percent graduation rate, meaning all 869 of its seniors were handed diplomas on graduation day, according to school officials, adding that "a flawless graduation rate is extremely unusual for such a large comprehensive public high school with approximately 3,600 students."

In addition, the Class of 2018 has 17 students who were accepted to seven Ivy League universities: two to Yale University; four to Cornell University; two to Columbia University; four to University of Pennsylvania; three to Princeton University; one to Brown University; and one to Dartmouth College, the school said.

Three others were admitted to Stanford University, two got into Massachusetts Institute of Technology and two received admission, and opted to stay local in Pasadena, at the prestigious California Institute of Technology.

Another 50 Apaches were accepted to the University of California Berkeley, 64 made the grade for the University of Southern California and another 49 scored admittance to University of California Los Angeles.

The Arcadia High School Class of 2018 collectively earned $12.8 million in scholarships and grants, with some including fully-paid scholarships to USC, University of Notre Dame, military academies and other UC and state institutions.

Named this year's class valedictorian, Stella Cho plans in the fall to study biochemistry at Notre Dame with the goal of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon. She received straight As throughout her middle- and high school career.

Cho’s school activities included serving as president of the pre-med club, Green Team president, speech and debate captain, science Olympiad, math team, government team, National Honor Society, Senior Men and Women and Hope Can Cure Cancer Club. She also plays the oboe in the Pasadena Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, volunteers at Methodist Hospital and helped conduct biology research at Caltech.

The Class of 2018 also had a remarkable 81 salutatorians, which requires a minimum GPA of 3.93.

"This is an unprecedented amount of salutatorians for the Apaches," school officials said. "While the success rates are high, the coursework was not easy."

Of the graduating class, over the course of their four years of high school, 602 students took at least one honors or advanced placement (AP) class, with an average of six honors/AP classes for those students, administrators said.

Arcadia High School Class of 2018 By The Numbers:

• Graduates: 869
• Graduation Rate: 100% (national average: 82%)
• GPA: 3.34 (meets minimum requirement for all UC schools)
• Average SAT: 1309 (national average: 1060)
• Average ACT: 29 (national average 21)
• Different Colleges Applied to: 378
• Total College Applications Submitted: 6469
• College Most Applied to: UC Santa Barbara (334)
• Private College Most Applied to: USC (229)
• Scholarships and Grants: $12.8 million (student reported)

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ALSO SEE:

• Motor Classic 2018 & Humane Society Benefit: San Marino

• Kick-Off: Concerts In Park & Movies Under Stars 2018: Diamond Bar

• July 4th 'Kaboom' Show & Fireworks 2018: Fairplex, Pomona

• 'Luxury Garage Sale' Pop-Up Shop: Galleria, Glendale

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--Image of Stella Cho via Arcadia High School