On December 14, 1900, Waterville High School held a ceremony to celebrate the students "receiving Honorary Parts for Fall Term." The afternoon included readings from students of their own essays and orations of famous writings as well as musical interludes. The small number of students being honored is indicative of the smaller percent of the Waterville population that chose to pursue a high school education at the time. Many young people chose to go to work at one of Waterville's mills rather than continue their education to this level.