William Penn Senior High School's graduation Friday night will be missing a few seniors.

The school district implemented a new Bearcat Bold policy this year that required seniors to do a list of things in order to walk at graduation, such as take the SAT, apply for college, and have a minimum GPA.

A few seniors didn't hit all the marks, said school board president Margie Orr, and so will not be able to participate.

Orr said those students will still get the opportunity to get their diploma; the Bearcat Bold just prevents students from walking at the ceremony at Small Field.

Orr said the Bearcat Bold should send a message to students, who were told in the fall about the requirements.

"We're not going to allow them to be lazy," she said.

William Penn principal Randy James told the board in the spring seniors were quickly adapting to the policy and that it appeared to be working.

Budget cuts mean York City won't offer summer school next year, Orr added, so this summer is the last chance for under-performing students to make up credits, or they, too, might find themselves violating the Bearcat Bold.

"They take it for granted," Orr said.

Senior class president Marissa Scone said she was aware some students struggled with the requirements. Overall, she said she appreciated the idea of pushing students.

"It helped keep us on track making sure we got things done with certain deadlines," Scone said.

In case of rain, the 7 p.m. ceremony will be moved from Small Field to the high school.

- Reach Andrew Shaw at ashaw@yorkdispatch.com