85 Cypress Lakes High School students to graduate with associate degrees

As hundreds of Cypress Lakes High School students walk across the Cy-Fair FCU Stadium stage Saturday, May 29, to receive their high school diplomas, 85 will have also earned a two-year associate degree from Lone Star College-CyFair.

The students are the from the inaugural cohort of College Academy, a dual-credit partnership between Cy-Fair ISD and the local community college campus that launched in fall 2017. They will also be included in Lone Star College-CyFair’s virtual graduation ceremony on May 14, which will celebrate 2,690 graduates, of which 1,941 are earning associate degrees, according to a press release.

“Our strong partnership with CFISD has produced our first class of College Academy graduates. We could not be more excited about these 85 students who have now jump-started their college education by earning an associate degree while still in high school,” LSC-CyFair President Seelpa Keshvala said in a statement.

Since its launch, CFISD’s College Academy has expanded to all 12 high schools districtwide. Those who complete the program are able to enter the workforce with their two-year college degree or transfer to a four-year university as a junior.

Haylee Moreira is one of the inaugural cohort graduates and said she plans to transfer to Texas A&M University to major in biomedical science. In a statement, she said she appreciated being able to participate in extracurricular activities at her high school while earning college credits.

“I learned real lifetime management skills which allowed me opportunities to participate in band practices, football games and band contests with my closest friends, knowing that my grades wouldn’t suffer,” she said. "I learned to organize, adjust and prioritize.”

Learn more about dual-credit opportunities and the College Academy at www.lonestar.edu/cfisd