It is the time of the year where many seniors are worried about their grades and how it affects their chances of getting their acceptance letter to college.

The proficiency of all students in their core subjects fluctuates. In a standardized reading test, 12 percent tested to be well below proficiency, 17 percent tested to be approaching proficiency, 60 percent met proficiency and 12 percent exceeded (420 students). For math, they tested 20 percent well below proficiency, 22 percent approached proficiency, 43 percent met with proficiency and 15 percent that exceeded proficiency (417 students).

These statistics show where McKinley students stand and statistics for people to improve.

“I need to show improvements in my grades if I want to show colleges that I’m hardworking,” senior Kairis Yam said.

Seniors are at the point of their lives where they should apply for colleges, and you can smell the fear in the students as they walk out of their counselor’s office.

“I don’t know which college I want to go to yet,” senior Saige Miller said. She added that she had senior project and grades to maintain and how her last year as a high school student was more difficult than all her years combined.

Colleges have always stressed that the acceptance of a student does not depend solely on high grades, but also grades that have improved over the course of years. For many incoming freshmen, or even the sophomores and juniors, procrastinating only means more stress for your future.

Counselor Lisa Panquites has always taken her time to go into class to speak about senior projects, credits needed to graduate and SAT/ACT dates for students to clarify students questions. Panquites has always made it clear for students and has always opened her office to any student when they are in need of answers pertaining to grades and if they are good enough for certain colleges. Although, the college readiness of McKinley High School is low, the staff continues to do their best to increase college rates for the students.