While some students haven’t thought about what they will do after high school, entering junior and senior year, a select few already have plans in place and are on track for early graduation.

Packing their schedules full of additional English classes, government classes and other course requirements, students who chose to graduate early must still complete the same number of credits as their peers, but a year or semester earlier.

To earn these credits quickly, students can take summer classes or follow an eight-hour schedule instead of the regular seven-hour schedule. Junior Mira Edie, who is graduating early with the class of 2026, is taking four Advanced Placement classes and two University of Kansas blueprint classes, which she said has taken a toll on her.

“Having to cram your junior and senior year together is so, so hard,” Edie said.

When Edie was considering whether she wanted to graduate a year earlier than normal, she said the decision had many pros and cons she had to evaluate, like not graduating with her graduating class and instead with the grade ahead. Ultimately, Edie said she is happy with her decision to graduate early, but still feels the loss of a graduation with friends.

“Graduating early is definitely a two-sided coin. There are so many benefits that I’m so excited for, but not getting to graduate with my friends is just so heartbreaking to me,” Edie said.

Junior Ewa Adedipe, who is also graduating with the class of 2026, said she enjoys the idea of graduating a year early and is excited for the coming opportunities in college, which she will have to wait one less year for.

Though Adedipe is graduating early for the quality of her applications, others had more specific motivations, like senior Reed Schmidt, who plans to attend the Missouri Welding Institute and finish his program by summertime.

“I’m most excited about being able to see the world sooner than others can and being able to work at the same time,” Schmidt said.