Stories Behind The Class of 2012

Although the city’s graduation rate was only 65.5 percent this year, recognition has to be given to the struggles some students went through to be part of that percentage.

The New York City Schools Chancellor, Dennis M. Walcott, stands with Remarkable Achievement Award recipient, Cyrus Dennis. Dennis grew up in foster care after he was taken away from his violent, schizophrenic mother. Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times

NEW YORK— Although the city’s graduation rate was only 65.5 percent this year, recognition has to be given to the struggles some students went through to be part of that percentage.

Nathaniel Loucks is a recent graduate of the Gateway School of Environmental Research and Technology in the Bronx. He lives in a temporary housing residence in Brooklyn, two hours away from his school.

Loucks was one of 193 graduates to receive the Remarkable Achievement Award at the New York City Department of Education headquarters Monday. Principals pick one Class of 2012 graduate from each school to receive this award.