Alicia Davis-Dawg's students have been carefully selected to go with her to the Empyrean Stair, though whether they will all remain together once a dragon or two are introduced, who knows? They don't all have the same class period together, but they do all (almost) have her classes in common. Also they don't all necessarily do well in her courses, but ... that's not the criteria that Hollis and Lane used to find them. Their dragons (among others at Carramba's dragonry) did all that, and both of those riders know better than to argue with their dragons about searches.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that this group is... unusual. But then that's what Carramba High is all about! Finding ways to work abilities and skills into daily use, honing them into career-mode or broadening them into side-hobby skill sets. But dragons are anything but a hobby, right? When these kids get back home, their class schedules will change a bit, since they will be needing to work with dragons on a daily basis, provided they actually come home with one. Actually, even if they don't, they'll put in for transfers to that department. Many of them enjoy events with the dragons, wouldn't it be fantastic to even be a part of their health and welfare?

Of course it would!

None of them are ‘lazy', every one of them, including the other two “MAR” brothers, have a diligent mindset, and are very open to new ideas. Since they're all reasonably young, Freshmen and Sophomores, they have another two to three years of standard education to attend regardless of a dragon coming home with them. To that end, obviously, Carramba has a strong support system for them to take a little more time or have different class requirements. It will mean that they'd be likely to take summer courses that would allow them to have fewer per day during the rest of the school year.

And that's not even mentioning the number of existing dragon riders on site! Plenty of professors and staff are quite familiar with the needs of their dragons, and when this group comes home they'll be provided with contact information to help them decide who to ask those difficult questions. After all, a water-born dragon might have considerably different medical needs than a feathery one, those with live birth (though apparently quite rare) would need certain care beyond those that hatch.

These things were listed in their introduction and information packet, but only with time and experience will they become true dragon riders.