For many of the students, it was one final chance to complete their high school education.

More than a few assumed they would never make it. But 106 students received their high school diplomas during graduation ceremonies last week at the South County Opportunity for the Purpose of Education/South St. Louis County Management School, better known as SCOPE/SSCMS.

SCOPE/SSCMS is an education consortium which is operated by the Mehlville School District and accepts students from the Mehlville, Lindbergh, Hancock, Valley Park, Webster Groves, Affton and Bayless school districts, plus the Special School District.

Some of the students have been expelled from their home districts due to behavior issues, while others left their traditional schools due to having a baby or facing a family crisis, like needing to work to help support their parents and siblings, according to a news release. SCOPE/SSCMS provides a flexible schedule but strict environment for students who are willing to make one final attempt to complete their high school studies.

The 2014 graduating class of 106 students is the largest since SCOPE/SSCMS was formed 15 years ago, the release stated. Graduating students were justifiably proud of their accomplishments, and their parents were left nearly speechless or in tears after seeing their children holding their diplomas.

A video of the graduation ceremony is below: