By Abby Whitt, Contributing writer
The Montgomery County School Board heard some data regarding the Class of 2025 during last week’s work session.
At the time of graduation, a total of 13 MCPS students had committed to the military across various branches, including two graduates from Auburn, two from Blacksburg, eight from Christiansburg and one from Eastern Montgomery. Of those, seven committed to the Army, one committed to the Navy, two committed to the Marines, one to the Air Force and two to the Army National Guard.
Twenty-six graduates from Auburn and Christiansburg were recognized as Associate’s Degree Completers.
A total of 125 graduates utilized the Access to Community College Education program through New River Community College: 29 from Auburn, 31 from Blacksburg, 61 from Christiansburg and four from Eastern Montgomery.
Of the 360 applicants to the Graduate with a Plan Program, 238 students were accepted: 12 from Auburn, 141 from Blacksburg, 80 from Christiansburg and 5 from Eastern Montgomery.
Also, 216 students participated in the Career and Technical Education Signing Day, which recognizes graduates heading straight into the skilled workforce: 45 from Auburn, 54 from Blacksburg, 94 from Christiansburg and 23 from Eastern Montgomery.
A total of 403 students across MCPS were in Advanced Placement courses (41 from Auburn, 220 from Blacksburg, 130 from Christiansburg and 12 from Eastern Montgomery), and 443 were Dual Enrollment participants (49 from Auburn, 222 from Blacksburg, 154 from Christiansburg and 18 from Eastern Montgomery).
The total number of graduates for the Class of 2025, including cohorts, early grads, students who graduated in December 2024, and earned Certificates of Completion and their GEDs) came to 1,643.
Seven MCPS students are expected to graduate at the end of summer, and three will finish their diploma requirements next year.
There were 31 members of the Class of 2025 who ended their enrollment early or dropped out: two from Auburn, 11 from Blacksburg, 17 from Christiansburg and one from Eastern Montgomery.
MCPS graduates in the Class of 2025 earned more than $6 million in scholarships with a total of $1.155 million awarded to Auburn graduates, about $2.1 million awarded to Blacksburg graduates, $2.5 million awarded to Christiansburg graduates and about $620,000 awarded to Eastern Montgomery graduates.
Also during the June 17 work session, board members approved Capital Plan Priorities and fiscal year 2025-2026 Budget Revisions totaling $280,000.
Projects included in the Capital Plan Priorities include the following:
Harding Avenue Elementary: security updates, adding walls/doors/daylights to classrooms, demolishing modular components and moving all classrooms inside the building, constructing a separate gym and cafeteria (with kitchen renovations), and adding classrooms.
Gilbert Linkous Elementary: security updates, construction of a new gym/cafeteria (or repurpose annex), replacing HVAC system and improving controls, renovation of student and staff restrooms, and the improvement of car and bus drop off area.
Margaret Beeks Elementary: security updates, construction of a separate gym/cafeteria or repurpose annex, upgrades to the electrical system, renovations to the Administration area, addition of doors to primary classrooms.
Shawsville Middle School: construction of corridor to sixth grade annex, security updates, renovations of student and staff restrooms, replacement of HVAC and controls, and the replacement of electrical system and elements.
Montgomery Central: addition of a modular unity to add classrooms, construction of additional restroom, addition of electricity to greenhouse, replacement of windows and doors, addition of parking spaces and demolition of lockers
A full list of prioritized projects can be found on the School Board’s website at https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/mcps/Board.nsf/Public.