Virtual Graduation Planned For MCPS Class Of 2020

BETHESDA, MD — Instead of walking across the stage to receive their diplomas, more than 11,300 students graduating from Montgomery County Public Schools will be honored in a virtual ceremony.

In a message posted on MCPS' website, school officials said they "decided to take a hybrid approach to graduation" and will be hosting a "universal virtual graduation for the entire Class of 2020 and their families" in early June.

Maryland's largest school district has not yet announced a date, but said families should expect more information in the coming days.

In addition to the virtual commencement ceremony, MCPS will be hosting in-person celebrations to give seniors the opportunity to reunite with their classmates. Those events will take place once public health restrictions on large gatherings have been lifted, the school system said.

For the Class of 2020, senior year is the last leg of a four-year high school marathon. Thousands of teens across Maryland pictured celebrating their successes in their caps and gowns at graduation. But the coronavirus pandemic had other plans.

In March, the same month COVID-19 hit Maryland, state school Superintendent Karen Salmon ordered the temporary closure of all K-12 schools.

The closures were supposed to last through March 27. But due to a rise to daily coronavirus cases, and a mounting death toll, the state decided to keep schools closed for the rest of the academic year.

Since seniors can't celebrate their accomplishments at school, MCPS is launching a week-long social media campaign to honor the Class of 2020.

From May 14 to 22, students can post videos and pictures about their post-secondary plans on Twitter using the hashtag #MCPSClassof2020. Submissions can also be emailed to pio@mcpsmd.org.