Although providing a high school transcript to one student is truly as simple as printing, stamping, and signing it, there is a bigger picture that makes this task not as simple as it may seem.

High school transcripts are on file in the guidance office for former students of Tyrone beginning in the 1920s through our current freshman class.  That represents 91 years of former students, and four years of current students.

Transcripts from the 1920-2001 are handwritten and stored in file cabinets in the high school.  From 2002 through 2009 transcripts are stored in an electronic format using a previous software system called SASI.  Transcripts from 2010 to the present are located in our current Sapphire system.  The handwritten transcripts through 2001 are filed in alphabetical order and vary in size. Transcripts are pulled from the files and copied or scanned to an electronic version of the file. From 2002, pulling transcripts is done electronically.

Former students require transcripts for many reasons.  Some employers now require that a prospective employee provide proof that he or she is a high school graduate.  For most, a high school transcript is the only place that information is found.  People deciding to further their education beyond high school are required to provide their transcripts to prospective colleges. Some former students have even requested a copy of their high school transcript because they wanted to know their class rank when they attended high school.

Requests come to the guidance office through phone calls, emails, fax requests and, of course, in person.  Numerous requests are received on a daily basis for transcripts from current and former students.  The number of requests increase in the summer and in December with the beginning of new semesters as current and former students work on college applications. Regrettably for all involved, some wait until too close to their deadlines to request their transcripts.

When all the components involved in the high school transcript request process were combined with the many other tasks and duties of the guidance office, and the reduction in guidance office staff and hours, it was clear that  a consistent transcript request process was very much needed.  The solution presented itself in the form of Parchment.com and on-line transcript requests.

Technology is most certainly the way the world is headed.  Tyrone Area School District also seems to agree having supplied half of the high school student body with Chromebooks.  The Eagle Eye Newspaper itself is a great example of how technology is used to make things more interesting and exciting.  In fact, 80% of all American households have internet access.

The Parchment transcript request process does not compare to the personal, simple requests of the past.  As with anything new, the process has some issues that are continuing to be worked on and improved.

For those who need assistance, the guidance office has information on how to access transcripts at Parchment.com as well as computers and internet access to help current high school students with the new transcript request process.