Class of '26 set to graduate 238 in two ceremonies Saturday

Local school division graduated 203 one year ago, 17.2 percent increase

~ PVN staff report

Page County Public Schools is set to graduate 238 local students between two ceremonies set for 10 a.m. at Page County High School and 6 p.m. at Luray High School on Saturday, June 6.

Nearly 54 percent of the local graduating Class of 2026 (128 students) plan to further their education at various colleges, universities or trade schools — up 27 percent from last year, and up 15 percent from two years ago. The largest portion of those students (53) will be attending four-year community colleges this fall — 22 percent of all local graduates; while 50 students are headed for two-year colleges and universities (21 percent) and 25 will be attending a trade or technical school (10.5 percent).

The overall percentage of county graduates continuing their education was the highest in four years. The number attending a four-year college or university increased by 60 percent from a year ago. This year’s 53 students shows a return to previous marks of 50 in 2024 and 52 in 2023. Of the 238 county graduates, 47 (or nearly 20 percent) are graduating with a 4.0 GPA or higher.

It should be noted that the total number of anticipated graduates in the county increased by 17.2 percent this year, from 203 a year ago. The Class of 2024 had 261 local graduates, and there were 253 graduates in 2023.

Among those 128 graduates continuing their education, more than $2 million in scholarships were awarded. Of that, $132,210 was provided through nearly 150 local donors and organizations, while the remainder was provided through institutional merit awards and other various scholarships — nearly a dozen or more were worth more than $100,000 each.

Seven members of the local Class of 2026 will graduate high school with two-year associate degrees earned through dual-enrollment classes at Laurel Ridge Community College. Another 34 graduates have earned one-year certifications through Laurel Ridge known as Uniform Certificate in General Studies (UCGS).

A total of 85 graduates (35.7 percent) will enter the workforce — slightly higher than last year’s 28.6 percent. Seven graduates this year have enlisted for military service (12 last year).

The PCHS ceremony will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Buddy Comer Stadium and feature speakers Mary Abercrombie, Ava Keyser and Rebekah Seals. If the weather forces the ceremony inside, it will be held in the auditorium.

The LHS ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening with speakers Kaitlynn Scott, Lindsey Klopack and Brigid Dudley. The ceremony is planned for outdoors at the high school. If the weather forces the ceremony inside, it will be held in the gymnasium.

Below are graduate stats provided by each high school in the county:

LURAY HIGH SCHOOL — Class of 2026

121 graduates (97 last year, 124 two years ago, 137 in 2023)
28 will be attending a four-year college or university (18 last year, 23 two years ago, 30 in 2023)
18 will be attending a two-year college (33 last year, 21 two years ago, 29 in 2023)
19 will be attending technical schools (5 last year, 10 two years ago, six in 2023)
3 will be entering the military (10 last two years, six in 2023)
50 will be entering the workforce (31 last year, 56 two years ago, 61 in 2023)
78 local scholarships totaling $57,210 (67 for $48,250 last year; 73 for $54,300 two years ago; 83 for $55,150 in 2023)
$1.2 million total reported scholarships awarded ($787,097 last year; $962,314 two years ago; $1.2 million in 2023)

LHS Class of 2026 academic achievements provided by the school:

20 Seniors are Distinguished Scholars – 4.0 or higher GPAs (20 last year; 13 two years ago; 25 in 2023)
6 Seniors are Honor Graduates – 3.8 -3.99 GPAs (eight last year; six two years ago, seven in 2023)
21 Seniors are Honor Students – 3.3 – 3.79 GPAs (16 last two years; 24 in 2023)
59 Seniors have GPAs of 3.0 and above (58 last year; 53 two years ago; 77 in 2023)
3 Seniors had all A’s for their entire 4 years of high school (seven last year; nine two years ago; eight in 2023)
25 Seniors are Early College Scholars (have 15+hours of transferable college credit with Advanced Diploma and B average) (26 last year; 20 two years ago; 30 in 2023)
48 Seniors earned Advanced Studies Diplomas (additional math, science, social studies, foreign language requirements) (56 last year; 52 two years ago; 65 in 2023)
17 Seniors are in National Honor Society (13 last year; 11 two years ago; 19 in 2023)
19 Seniors are in Spanish Honor Society (21 last year; 14 two years ago; 21 in 2023)
1 Senior earned Associate’s Degree (2 year degrees) from Laurel Ridge Community College concurrent with high school (two last year; three in 2023; two in 2023)
17 Seniors earned Certificates in General Education or a Health Science Certificate (1 year degree) from Laurel Ridge concurrent with high school (19 last year; 14 in 2024; 13 in 2023)
37 Seniors completed course requirements and received a certificate at Page County Technical Center (21 last year; 27 in 2024; 28 in 2023)

PAGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL — Class of 2026

117 graduates (106 last year; 137 two years ago; 116 in 2023)
25 will be attending a four-year college or university (15 last year; 27 two years ago; 22 in 2023)
32 will be attending a two-year college (20 last year; 23 two years ago; 14 in 2023)
35 will be entering the workforce
17 earned a one-year certificate from Laurel Ridge Community College (11 last year; 22 two years ago)
6 earned a two-year associate’s degree from Laurel Ridge Community College (4 last two years)
6 will attending a trade school (10 last year; seven two years ago; nine in 2023)
4 will be entering the military (two last year; one in 2024; four in 2023)
Over $75,000 in local scholarships ($78,000 last year; $68,000 two years ago; $70,453 in 2023)
Over $800,000 offered in institutional scholarships from colleges, universities and other sources, with five graduates receiving full tuition scholaships
24 Honor Students (3.3 – 3.799 GPA)
11 Honor Graduates (3.8 – 3.99 GPA)
27 Distinguished Scholars (4.0+ GPA)