You will see more graduating seniors earning a paycheck rather than filling out a financial aid form this year.

According to a National Student Clearing House study last year, undergraduate enrollment was down by 1.4 million people. The combination of higher wages coming out of high school and the prospect of not carrying debt has carried many people into the trades or technical and vocational schools where you can get on with your career after two years in some cases.

It is a trend Luxemburg-Casco High School is seeing with this year’s graduating class, which will receive their diplomas on Wednesday. About 44 percent of its graduating class (44 percent) of 139 students is committed to attending a four-year school, compared to the 45 percent that is going to a vocational or trade school and 21 percent that are heading right into the workforce. Praising the success of its own apprenticeship and vocational training programs, Luxemburg-Casco Principal Troy Haws says he is happy that students feel more comfortable following their passion rather than what many think is the norm.  

Luxemburg-Casco is the second area school to hold its commencement exercises this week after Algoma hosted theirs on Sunday.