Bridgeport High School may be known statewide for its athletic success, but it is known locally, regionally, and even by many across West Virginia for its academic success. And that success showed up once again.

 

Recently, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission released the 2019 numbers for students graduating from schools who opt to attend college. Bridgeport High School has the highest percentage of graduates in West Virginia going onto to college in the fall, or even for summer, after getting their diplomas last year.

 

“It’s always nice to finish number one. However, what I hope for is that when a student goes off to higher education, they go off and embark in an area that’s meaningful in relation to getting a job,” said Bridgeport High School Principal Matt DeMotto. “Going to college for the sake of going to college is not the right reason.

 

“While it’s great finishing  number one, and we have a lot of students where college is certainly the niche for them, we should not underestimate other things,” he continued. “We should not underestimate the value of a strong trade skill and being able to join the work force sooner rather than later.”

 

Most of the Bridgeport students from 2019 will be going the college route. BHS finished with 76.1 percent of gradates being admitted to college. Only one other school in the state was above 70 percent. Kanawha County's George Washington High School was just behind at 75.9 percent.

 

Robert C. Byrd had the second highest percentage of its students attending college in 2019 from Harrison County. The Clarksburg school saw 54.8 percent of its graduates continue their education at the next level, according to the Commission’s report.

 

“At the end of the day, I just want the kids to be successful,” DeMotto said. “I don’t care if it’s college, going immediately into the workforce or a trade ... I hope our students think first about what will get them a job and employment for a career to be able to care of themselves and their families.”