Newtown High School’s top demi-decile students graduating this spring were announced on Tuesday, May 14.

NHS Principal Kimberly Longobucco gathered the seventeen students into the school’s lobby for the announcement. There, she explained that being in the top demi-decile means that they are the top five percent of their graduating class. She congratulated the students for their achievement and said that they should be proud of their hard work.

The top five percent will also be announced at graduation and get to walk across the stage and graduate before the rest of their peers.

Tyler White was announced as the valedictorian and Grace Chiriatti was announced as the salutatorian.

Alongside White and Chiriatti, the students in the top five percent are Ellie Arcario, Andrew Arena, Alyssa Beatrice, Grace Fischer, Bennett Gogliettino, Miguel Gutierrez, Evan Johnson, Braden Macey, Noah Masotta, Ava Mitchell, Grant Ricks, Lauren Smiley, Carissa Soriano, Adrian Totir, and Jessica Zhang.

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.