Clark Advanced Learning Center Seniors Graduate with Head Start on College and Careers

May 30, 2019 Robert Lane

Eighty-four high school seniors graduated from Clark Advanced Learning Center on Saturday, May 25, with a head start on college, expertise in the latest technology, and real-world experience gained through internships within the local community. These students logged nearly 4,700 hours with 67 local business partners during the 2018–2019 school year. Clark seniors also engaged in diverse service learning and community projects, accumulating over 9,700 hours of service throughout their high school years.

2019 Clark Advanced Learning Center Graduation

Clark Advanced Learning Center—a public charter high school for sophomores, juniors, and seniors—is among the top-scoring Treasure Coast schools based on Florida’s school grading system and among the top 20 high schools in all of Florida. Clark has been designated a Grade "A" school by the State of Florida for ten consecutive years and is recognized as a High-Performing Charter School and a School of Excellence by the Florida Department of Education. Clark is also among Newsweek’s coveted list of America's Top High Schools for 2019—ranking among the top 500 charter schools in the nation.

Conveniently located at the Chastain Campus of Indian River State College in Stuart and organized in partnership with the Martin County School District, Clark students can take full advantage of the resources of a college campus and earn tuition-free college credits through dual enrollment with the College. As a result, many Clark students graduate with their high school diploma and a year or more of college completed. This year, 60 percent of the senior class (50 students) have earned Associate degrees from IRSC, enabling them to continue their studies as juniors at the college or university level. Twenty-eight Clark graduates have elected to attend IRSC in the fall with college credits already in hand.

Collectively, Clark seniors earned over $215,000 in local college scholarships and over $310,000 in Bright Futures Scholarships and many seniors received local, state, and national honors and recognition.

Allison Falco, of Hobe Sound, is the class valedictorian and will be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, to study both political and cognitive science and will pursue a career in research and journalism. Alyssa Mastriano, of Palm City, is the class salutatorian and will be attending the Harriett L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, Florida, following a path of studies towards Medical School. Both students graduate with their Associate in Arts Degree along with their high school diploma.

Lara Lough Butler, Clark Class of 2011, will shared the Commencement address. Butler completed her Associate in Arts Degree at IRSC in 2014 prior to transferring to University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville where she excelled academically and was involved with campus clubs and research with professors. She earned her Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology from UNF in 2016 and now works in human services, which is leading her to pursue a career in counseling.

Congratulatory remarks were extended by Dr. Edwin Massey, IRSC President, and Mrs. Laurie Gaylord, Superintendent of the Martin County School District.

The Clark Advanced Learning Center is a public charter high school offering academic and technology programs that meet the requirements for a high school diploma from the Martin County School District. Students attend free of charge for high school and college courses and books. Graduates are ready to transfer to Indian River State College or transfer to a university. For more information about Clark Advanced Learning Center, visit www.clarkadvancedlearningcenter.org or call 772-419-5750.