High School Graduation Traditions

Each high school, community and family has unique graduation traditions.

Features

During the ceremony, spectators will blow horns, ring cowbells, hold up signs and cheer. Graduates can be somber or excited. Some hide shaving gel or other aerosols in their gowns to spray each other. They may also hand candy, rocks or golf balls to an administrator or school board member as they shake hands.

Time Frame

Potential graduates order announcements two to four months in advance. Seniors must finish classwork a week in advance so teachers can finalize grades, GPAs and class ranks. Administrators then inform students who did not meet the state or school's requirements they will not graduate.

Function

Graduates wear matching caps and gowns or white dresses or shirts. Ropes worn around graduates' necks denote class rank or GPA status. Graduates line up alphabetically and enter to "Pomp and Circumstance." Several speakers address the crowd, read each graduate's name and present the class. Graduates then throw their caps or confetti in the air.

Significance

Students excitedly anticipate graduation. Classmates have often gone to school together for 13 years.

Expert Insight

Senior class advisers, custodians or parents decorate the graduation area. Graduations are held outside or inside the school's gymnasium or theater. Larger schools set up cameras so friends and families can watch in a separate room.

Considerations

If a classmate died while in high school, a black wreath or flowers adorn a chair in remembrance.

References

• Why Americans Graduate to Elgar