They studied ancient Roman attire, wrote a series of memoirs, documented leaving the family business for the first time and excelled in photography.

And now this small group of distinguished artists, writers and self-directed learners will graduate this weekend from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. Known for their enthusiasm and creativity, the graduating senior class of nine students will accept their diplomas at a ceremony tomorrow afternoon in West Tisbury.

The achievements by this year’s class include a Gold Key award from the Boston Globe Scholastic Art competition and acceptance at top-tier colleges.

The graduates are Krista Brown, Ava Castro, Joshua Crowther, Iris Grace, Rose Maidoff, Chelsea Phaneuf, Oona Post, Marguerite Smith and Brianna Sosa.

This week Bob Moore, director of the charter school, said their achievements extend beyond the classroom.

“This class represents what the charter school mission is about,” Mr. Moore said. “That means that they have become great directors of their own learning.”

Founded in 1996 with a broadly drawn mission of project-based learning, the charter school has grown in both enrollment and teaching philosophy since then. Mr. Moore said this year’s graduating class is an example of how students have helped to shape the school. “They have all made major contributions in developing what the charter school is today, both academically and culturally,” he said.

Claudia Ewing, assistant director at the charter school, noted the graduates’ commitment to the community. “They care very much about both the Vineyard and wider world around them,” Mrs. Ewing said. “We’re very excited for them.”

Students were required to create personal portfolios for their final projects.

“I’m comfortable learning here,” Ms. Brown said during a luncheon for the graduates held yesterday at the Artcliff Diner in Vineyard Haven. After spending two years at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, she returned to the charter school to finish out her high school career. Mr. Crowther too switched for his senior year, citing the independent learning program as a draw.

Ms. Brown will attend Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 2011, while Ms. Castro will enroll at Hampshire College. Mr. Crowther will attend Champlain College, Ms. Maidoff is going to Mt. Holyoke College, and Ms. Post will enroll at New York’s School of Visual Arts in the honors program. Ms. Smith is exploring the option of art school in California, while Ms. Grace plans to move to San Francisco in the fall. Ms. Sosa will explore options at home, and Ms. Phaneuf plans to do missionary work.

Many have attended the charter school since first grade.

What will they be missed for most? “There’s a wonderful intelligence they bring to class discussion,” Mrs. Ewing said. “And their kindness.”

Expressing his own fondness for the class, Mr. Moore said he remembers Miss Maidoff in her first grade classroom and also welcoming Mr. Crowther for his first time at the school in his senior year.

“Any time the students walk out of the building for one last time before graduation, it’s a moment of reflection,” the director said, adding: “There’s no doubt they are a group of independent learners.”

At lunch on Thursday, the students took some time to reflect on their high school years, recalling moments both funny and serious.

Even though she’ll have access to five times as many studios in the fall at art school, Ms. Post said she will miss what has come to be her second home: her school studio. “It’s a closet, but it’s my closet,” she said.

And if 10 years together seems like an awfully long time, for this group of students, it has worked. “Everyone is friends with everyone. There’s tension sometimes but everyone’s comfortable with each other,” Ms. Brown said.

“It begins to feel like family,” added Ms. Maidoff, who has been at the school for 11 years. Ms. Maidoff and Ms. Phaneuf are busy finishing Victorian style dresses to wear at graduation on Saturday; Ms. Brown and Ms. Castro are preparing a speech together. Mr. Crowther is expected to perform alongside art teacher Cara Yahrling, and all other students will be saying a few words as well.

And for most of them, Saturday is not the final goodbye. Ms. Post, Ms. Maidoff and Ms. Phaneuf will travel together to Italy this summer to study art, and Ms. Smith and Ms. Grace hope to meet up in California after they head west on a cross-country road trip in the fall.

Mr. Crowther will work at Nectar’s this summer and will move to Burlington, Vt., in the fall to take a year off and work at the original Nectar’s there.

All who are leaving the Island say they are ready to start the next phase of their lives. “I want to leave because if I don’t now I’ll never leave,” Ms. Maidoff said. “But I’m really happy here.”

This is the class of 2010. Between making dinner for Island Elderly Housing residents and preparing their personal portfolio projects, they have not forgotten what Mr. Moore considers their greatest accomplishment.

“Their achievements represent the quality and passion that they have obtained,” he said. “But it all goes back to appreciating the qualities in each other.”

The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School graduation will be held on Saturday, June 5, at 1:30 p.m. on the grounds of the school off State Road in West Tisbury. All are welcome.