(NewsNation) — High school graduation for many students is a major milestone — but one Texas senior is so heartbroken about hers, she’s decided not even to attend.
Maya Veliz, a student at Blue Ridge High School, was told she would be class valedictorian in March. Two weeks ago, Veliz’s principal told her because of a miscalculation in her credits, she is now ranked third in her class.
This derails a lot of the plans Maya Veliz and her family have been making — especially since it could potentially affect the cost of her tuition.
Jorge Veliz told NewsNation he’s gotten “mixed answers” about what happened from Blue Ridge High School.
Blue Ridge High School did not respond to a request for comment by NewsNation, but the district told local media outlet WFAA that it investigated the “private student matter” and communicated with parents involved.
“The district reviews academic achievement, grade calculations, and class rank during this time period each year by applicable state law and board policies,” the school district said. “Miscalculations were originally made when finalizing GPA and Class Rank; then corrected to ensure compliance with both of those board policies. All students affected have been notified, and in addition, plans have been initiated to ensure that a mistake like this does not take place in the future.”
District officials declined further comment to WFAA, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
To WFAA, Jorge Veliz, Maya’s dad, said school administrators told him that the issues were centered around credits his daughter got at the school she went to last year before the family moved to Blue Ridge. They had not been weighed in accordance with the district’s transfer policy, Jorge Veliz said, despite the fact that he checked with administrators last year to see what his daughter needed to do to maintain her GPA and class rank.
This “miscalculation,” Maya Veliz said in an interview on “Morning in America” Monday, “was a struggle to comprehend.”
Veliz says she’s been working since junior high to excel in her studies.
“I’m almost at the finish line,” Maya Veliz said. “This was supposed to be my last hurrah, and it was just devastating.”
Texas education policy states that students graduating at the top of their class are eligible for free tuition during their first year. Maya Veliz said this gave her family “stability,” as she’s already accepted an offer to go to the University of Texas based off this information. She won’t know until mid-May whether that offer still stands, she said to NewsNation.
“It just all being up in the air right now is, stress-wise, and anxiety-wise, it’s crippling, but I’ve come to terms with finding different pathways just to make sure that my future is still secure,” Maya Veliz said.