On May 23, 984 Air Force Academy cadets will become second lieutenants as the Thunderbirds zoom overhead.

Tucked into a statistical rundown of the Class of 2018 provided by the Academy is a figure that bodes well for the school. According to the Academy, only 18.4 percent, or 222, of those who entered the Academy four years ago with this class washed out. That's a significant improvement over years past.

The last time the Independent looked at this in late 2016, the wash-out rates were well over 20 percent.

You can revisit that report here.



Here are some fun facts about this year's graduating class provided by the Academy:

– 1,498 were offered appointments to the Academy

– 1,206 men and women were inducted into the Academy, including 14 international cadets

– There were 942 men (78.1 percent) and 264 women (21.9 percent) in the class

– There were 323 (26.8 percent) minorities

– There were 585 (48.5 percent) cadets who were potentially pilot qualified

– The average high school GPA for the Class of 2018 was 3.85

– The average SAT score was 633 verbal and 663 math

-The average ACT score was 30 English, 30 reading, 30 math and 30 science reasoning

Scheduled to Graduate:

Scheduled to graduate are 984 cadets, including 13 international cadets.

– 772 men (78 percent) and 212 women (22 percent)

– 273 minorities (28 percent) of the class. Seventy-seven cadets are African-American, 105 are Hispanic, 65 are Asian, 13 are Pacific Islanders and 13 are Native American, not including the international cadets.

– 711 cadets are not minorities

– The 13 international cadets are from Kazakhstan, Gaban, Malaysia, Moldovia, Pakistan, The Republic of Korea, Romania, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates

– 142 graduates attended the Air Force Academy Preparatory School

– 45 graduates were previously enlisted Airmen

– The average cumulative GPA for the graduating class was 3.07

– The attrition rate is 209 cadets (18 percent)

– 54 graduates have brothers or sisters who have graduated from the Academy

– 58 graduates are second-generation graduates. Six cadets’ parents are both graduates of the Academy.