DeKalb County School District announces plans for high school graduations

DeKalb County School District Announces Virtual Graduation Schedule

Tentative plans call for the DeKalb County School District’s Class of 2020 to hold graduation exercises virtually in June, or face to face in July, depending on COVID-19 guidance on social distancing, district officials announced today(May 8).

 The coronovirus pandemic has forced school officials to re-think  end-of-year school plans and traditional celebrations in including high school graduations.

On April 14, the DeKalb County School District published the “End of Year Guide for Students and Families” that disclosed the two graduation ceremony options being considered in light of the Georgia’s executive order to shelter in place. At that time, the options included hosting graduation ceremonies during the week of June 22-27 as virtual ceremonies or hybrid face-to-face ceremonies at the AIC in the auditorium.

“Based on current guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies, we are unable to host graduation ceremonies face-to-face for June,” the district said in a news release.

“The ultimate goal,” officials said, is two-fold: a) provide the wishes of the students based on the results of the senior survey for a face-to-face ceremony and b) provide proper closure to the school year and celebrate this important milestone for the Class of 2020.

The district has planned two graduation ceremonies:

Virtual Graduation Ceremonies planned for the week of June 15-20, 2020 (schedule attached).

Face to Face Graduation with dates to be determined (July or August time-frame), depending on the 
COVID-19 guidance and social distancing requirements at that time.

Seniors will receive their yearbooks, cap and gowns, and other items during Senior Week, May 11-15, as graduating students participate in celebratory virtual activities. All seniors who have earned the required Carnegie units to meet all graduation requirements will officially graduate on Friday, May 15, which is the date of record for end of the 2019-2020 school year for the DeKalb County School District.

Seniors will receive high school diplomas on May 21, from their local high schools. For the safety of students and staff, all local high school principals will devise a plan to adhere to the physical/social distancing guidance from the DeKalb Board of Health, Georgia Department of Public Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the diplomas and other items are distributed.