Chaparral Hosts First 'College Signing Day'

The Chaparral High School Counseling Department held its first-ever College Signing Day on Thursday, May 1. 

Similar to the Athletic Signing Days held across the district for students accepting athletic scholarships, this event was intended to honor those seniors in the CHS Class of 2014 who have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities. While not all 690 students participated, over 200 seniors proudly wore their college shirts and attended the recognition ceremony in the school’s gym.

“This was a very gratifying experience for students, families, and staff, and we plan to make it an annual tradition,” said Liz Cooke, head counselor.

The event preceded the release of a national report by U.S. News & World Report which ranked Chaparral, Great Oak, and Temecula Valley High Schools as among the best high schools in the nation. All three high schools were deemed Silver Medalists. 

The magazine collected data on more than 19,400 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. A total of 574 California schools (4,707 nationally) were ranked for the magazine's list this year. 

The rankings were calculated by looking at student performance on state-mandated standardized tests, evaluating how effectively schools educated black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students, and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams to determine the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work.