Next Saturday, American Heritage Academy will graduate 16 students from its ranks at 2:30 p.m. in its new multi-purpose building. The school is located at 2126 Sixes Road in the Sixes community.
The school graduated 18 students last year, said Dr. Parviz Nikkhoo, development director for American Heritage.
Dr. Nikkhoo said the fluctuation in the graduation numbers is normal, as some years will have larger senior classes than others.
Dr. Nikkhoo added all the students graduating at American Heritage have been accepted into a college of their own choosing.
He also said the school's students had just under $1 million awarded in HOPE Scholarship funds in the past five years.
Dr. Nikkhoo added that while the graduation class did decrease slightly, they've had "their best month" in terms of interest in their facility.
With budget cuts looming over public school systems, Dr. Nikkhoo said the school has seen an influx in calls from parents requesting to tour the building.
Cherokee Christian School's graduation is set for 4 p.m. on May 29 at its facility, located at 3075 Trickum Road in Woodstock.
Eleven students are set to graduate from Cherokee Christian School, said Superintendent Mike Lee.
The school had 13 graduates last year, he added.
In the days leading up to graduation, each student will record a two minute video to their parents titled "P.S., I love you." Those two minute videos will play during the ceremony as each of the students walks into room.
"There will be lots of tears, good tears," Lee said.
Among its 11 graduates, Cherokee Christian has 10 students who are going to college. Also, seven of those students qualify to receive the HOPE Scholarship.
In addition to the HOPE Scholarship, three students were awarded $50,000 in merit scholarships. The popular destinations for students at Cherokee Christian Schools include the Georgia Institute of Technology, Southern Polytechnic University, Kennesaw State University and Bryan College in Dayton, Texas.
Also, the school's valedictorian and salutatorian, Will Turner and Christian Reitz, will both attend Georgia Tech and will be roommates.
Lee said last year's valedictorian and salutatorian also attended Georgia Tech and roomed together.
Twenty-two students are set to graduate from Furtah Preparatory School during its ceremony at 2 p.m. May 29.
The school will hold its graduation festivities at Acworth United Methodist Church, at 4340 Collins Circle in Acworth.
As part of tradition, each of the graduating students will place their caps onto the heads of rising seniors.
Headmaster Fred Furtah said the school had 23 graduates last year. Furtah noted the school's graduates are going into diverse fields of study, such as academics, drama, sports and the military.
One student, he said, has a full-ride scholarship to play basketball at Chattahoochee Technical College. Another student was accepted on a theatre scholarship into Columbus State University.
Not to be outdone, another student was accepted on a track scholarship at Gordon College. Students at Furtah are also attending Kennesaw State, Andrew College in Cuthbert, Reinhardt College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.
James Adams, a senior who had both arms and legs amputated at a young age, was accepted into the University of Alabama on a wheelchair basketball scholarship.
Furtah said he was proud to see his school's graduation rate remain steady, despite parents facing tighter budgets.
The school has been successful because of its focus on helping individual students succeed, he added.
"We are able to find each student's niche," he said.
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