CCS What's Going Well - Grad 2025

Graduation is a magical time of year, a season filled with reflection, celebration, and anticipation. It's a moment when years of hard work and growth come together in one unforgettable milestone. For our students, it's the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another. For parents, it’s an emotional time of joy, excitement, probably a little bit of trepidation, but mostly pride as they recognize all that their children have accomplished. As tassels are moved from right to left and families cheer from the stands, we are reminded of all that lies ahead and the memories that will always be cherished. We are so proud of the Class of 2025 and look forward to seeing what the future holds for you! Congratulations Graduates!

One of our favorite traditions for our senior class is the senior walk. This is done on their last day of school. It's the first time we get to see them in their cap and gown, and it makes it all finally feel real! The seniors walk through their buildings while staff and students cheer them along. CHS seniors then make their way to the football field, where they do a victory lap around the track, followed by a celebration on the field with family and friends.

CHS Senior Walk

RHS Senior Walk

On May 8th, we celebrated CHS and RHS students who have committed to serving in the military after graduation. Families, administrators, counseling staff, and military representatives gathered to recognize these students and their future service.

Congratulations to our student-athletes who have committed to playing at the collegiate level! This year, 32 athletes signed their National Letter of Intent—a true testament to their hard work and dedication.

Each year, we host a Senior Scholar Breakfast to honor the top 25 students in the class of 2025. What an incredible accomplishment! Please join us in congratulating the following students: Abigail Finnerty, Pierce Peruski, Gavin Raff, Evan Woodward, Cayden DeGrendel (not pictured), Anthony Provencher, Jack Tultz, Samuel DeKoninck, Madison Drake, Ginger Robinson, Leyton Zerba, Daniel Nguyen, Nicolas Miller, Charlotte Partchenko, Noah Gedraitis, Benjamin Guzal (not pictured), Kent Wilson (not pictured), Ava Henkel, Colton Hedstrom, Mahi Patel, Claire Dean, Luke Agar, Grace Herrin, Hannah Powers, and Ava Lonteen.

On the morning of graduation day, many of our graduates take a walk down memory lane by visiting their elementary school. The elementary students love seeing them in their caps and gowns, and the graduates love the nostalgia of returning to where it all began.

Congratulations to our Project SEARCH graduates! We are so proud of you and wish you the very best in your future! Thank you to McLaren Oakland for your continued partnership. Congratulations!

This spring, we had the honor of celebrating the graduation of several students from Clarkston’s LIFE Skills program. These students have made significant strides in building independence, communication, social-emotional skills, and job readiness. With the consistent support of their families, educators, and related service providers, they have grown into confident young adults prepared to take the next step in their journey. Congratulations!

Eva Bousho, Andrew Bratton, and Julia Lewis have completed the Oakland ACE (Accelerated College Experience) program! Through this unique partnership between Oakland Schools and Oakland Community College, these students balanced high school and college coursework in 11th and 12th grade, and then spent a full 13th year at OCC. Along the way, they not only earned their high school diplomas but also their associate’s degree. We’re incredibly proud of their drive, determination, and success—way to go, grads!

Last week, we celebrated the Renaissance High School Class of 2025 — a small but mighty group ready to take on their next chapter. In an intimate and heartfelt ceremony, we honored each graduate’s journey and the exciting new beginnings that lie ahead. Congratulations, Class of 2025! We are so proud of you.

What a fantastic evening celebrating the CHS Class of 2025! The perfect weather matched a night full of pride and joy. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you—your hard work and dedication have paid off. Congratulations, Class of 2025—you did it!