Members of Arlington Public Schools’ class of 2026 wrapped up their high-school lives last week with a sense of gratitude and fulfillment.
“We are proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for what lies ahead,” said Evangeline “Evie” Price, one of Washington-Liberty High School’s seniors and a speaker at the school’s June 13 graduation ceremony.
It was one of a number of ceremonies held during the week, celebrating the achievements of 1,900 Arlington graduating seniors. Ceremonies were livestreamed and have been archived.
The class of 2026 “created memories that will stay with us long after today,” Price said at the morning ceremony, held at EagleBank Arena.
“Take a moment to be grateful,” she told her fellow graduates while thanking family, friends and school staff for their supportive efforts.
Wakefield senior-class president Brianna Gilbert gave praise to the school’s educators, noting “the fervent bravery it takes to be a high-school teacher.”
“Great teachers are true superheroes, and I know for a fact that Wakefield has so many of them,” Gilbert said at the school’s June 13 graduation ceremony, held in the afternoon at EagleBank Arena.
Behind every graduating senior is a support network that has helped to get them to the finish line, said Madeline La Salle Frazier, coordinator of The Academy Program at Arlington Career Center.
“We don’t just graduate students — we graduate families,” she said.
Frazier told students to stop for a moment and consider the importance of graduation day and collective efforts to get there.
“That is not small. That is a big deal,” she said at ceremonies held outdoors at Wakefield High School.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for Arlington Community High School, School Board Chair Bethany Zecher Sutton said students also should take a bow for their own efforts.
“Take pride in how far you have come,” she said. “Each of you took many steps to invest in yourselves. You are prepared to meet what lies ahead.”
Arlington Public Schools’ on-time graduation rate for the class of 2026 is estimated at 93%, essentially unchanged from 2025 figures, according to preliminary data provided by the school system. School officials said a final rate will be tabulated after the end of the school year.
The class of 2025’s APS on-time graduation rate was 92.89%, according to data reported by the Virginia Department of Education. That was slightly above the statewide on-time graduation rate of 92.7% for those in the class of 2025.
For the class of 2026, Arlington school officials said approximately 89% plan to continue their studies beyond high school.
Those educational journeys will take students near and far. At Washington-Liberty High School alone, graduating seniors are headed to college in a majority of U.S. states plus Canada, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan.
Among Arlington students, 70% earned an Advanced Studies diploma while 90% completed college-level coursework through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual-enrollment programs.
The 2025-26 school year also served as “graduation” for 101 Arlington Public Schools employees who are retiring.
“They have been educators, mentors, leaders, advocates, compassionate listeners and trusted colleagues,” school officials said. “Through their daily efforts, they have inspired generations of students, supported families and strengthened our schools.”
Superintendent Francisco Durán is expected to provide an overview of the 2025-26 school year at the June 17 School Board meeting.
28 Arlington Tech students earn diplomas and NOVA degrees
More than one in three 2026 graduates of Arlington Tech earned a college degree in tandem with their high school diploma.
A total of 28 students earned associate’s degrees through Northern Virginia Community College as part of dual-enrollment programs. That’s up 47% from a year before and represents 35% of the graduating class.
Arlington Tech students represented 64% of all associate degrees earned by high school students across Northern Virginia this spring.
According to Principal Margaret Chung:
“When students are trusted to make decisions about their learning and given access to authentic college experiences, they rise to meet that challenge. They are not just earning credits. They are building direction, confidence and a clear sense of what comes next.”
Arlington Tech is a Governor’s STEM Academy within Arlington Public Schools that blends college-level coursework, career and technical education, and project-based learning.
