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How to Host a Virtual High School Graduation Ceremony

By 3:59pm PST June 05, 2020

A guide for celebrating high school seniors locally

This is a guide anyone—educators, families, community members, and students—can use to celebrate high school seniors in their community. We outline everything from how to choose an online platform for your virtual graduation ceremony to inspirational ideas for no-tech celebratory activities that communities can enjoy while remaining socially distant.

Sheltering-in-place is a new experience for all of us. And these past few months haven’t been easy. On top of everything else, seniors missed many of the milestones that traditionally mark the end of their high school experience. But that doesn’t mean they have to miss graduation, too.

Of course, it won’t be the same—but that doesn’t mean it can’t be great. You can celebrate high school seniors and their accomplishments with a virtual ceremony and community events. And just because you’re doing this remotely doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.

Get the Support You Need to Host a Virtual Graduation Ceremony

Planning a virtual ceremony and remote wrap-around celebrations isn’t an easy task. You’ll need help to bring all the pieces together. So reach out, form committees, and get organized! At XQ, we truly believe that teamwork makes the dream work. 

Here are some ideas:

  • Invite a committee of teachers to manage invitations to family members, community leaders, and other friends of your school.
  • Ask a group of music students to create a playlist attendees can listen to while waiting for the virtual ceremony to begin.
  • Recruit a team of family members to coordinate the logistics of distributing regalia—following CDC safety guidelines, of course.
  • Lean on community partners to create photo or video montages with the content you collect from students, teachers, and families.

Planning Your Virtual High School Graduation Ceremony

High school graduation is a rite of passage—a moment of celebration and recognition. While school buildings are closed, your school community has an opportunity to add to the tradition in fresh and innovative ways. Our advice? Be creative!

We compiled a few resources and tips on how to translate commencement speeches, music, and other iconic graduation moments to a virtual ceremony.

Commencement Speakers

Principal’s speech: Students and families always look to the school leader to set the tone for the graduation ceremony. This year is no different—except that the speech will need to strike a balance between celebrating the Class of 2020’s achievements and acknowledging the challenges they’ve overcome in the last few months.

The principal’s speech can be pre-recorded or read live during the virtual ceremony. Here are a few tips for principals to keep in mind:

  • Include photos and videos to play during the speech
  • Practice the speech, including visual references
  • Do multiple test-runs with the tech tools you’ll use during the event

Student speakers: Your school’s selection process can stay the same for student speeches, too. Just like the other speeches and performances, you just need to decide if the message will be pre-recorded or read live.

With a remote ceremony, you also have an opportunity to include more than one student speech. You can do this in a powerful way by asking students to submit videos and creating a montage of the highlights.

Additional speakers: Consider asking members of local sports teams, news stations, or your school’s alumni association to contribute a pre-recorded or live commencement speech. Another option is using a publicly available speech from iHeartMedia or NPR.

Musical Pieces and Performances

Opening music: One of the most recognized components of graduation is the opening processional, Pomp and Circumstance. Access and download a digital recording or tap into the creativity of your band, orchestra, and/or choir directors. School musicians can put together a recording through virtual or socially distant collaboration. You can even display images of students on the screen while the music plays.

Performances: Graduation offers an opportunity to celebrate talented members of the senior class by inviting them to perform for their school one last time.

  • What musical acts or performances can you add to make your graduation feel true and personal to your school?
  • Does your school have an alma mater?
  • Are there other songs that hold particular meaning for your school and this particular class?

Ask senior musicians, dancers, and any other performers to submit a recording that can be featured before or during the virtual ceremony.

Recognize and Present the Graduates

Recognizing each graduate is the highlight of any graduation ceremony. For many families, seeing their students walk across stage and hearing their child’s name read aloud is a treasured experience. Here are a few ideas to celebrate each and every graduate during your virtual ceremony:

  • Ask students to submit a photo to be shown when their name is read.
    Whether students submit an image of their senior quote or a photo of themselves, this is a great way to reinvent a traditional in-person ceremony.
  • Pre-record students walking across a stage.

This sounds tricky to do, but it can be accomplished with planning and careful attention to social distancing guidelines. At Elizabethton High School in Tennessee, students were assigned 15-minute slots to walk across the auditorium stage, where a family member handed them their diploma. Each walk was recorded, and the video will be edited and played during the remote ceremony.

Celebrate the Graduates

Even though your school can’t gather in auditoriums or on sports fields for the ceremony, you can still celebrate a few time-honored graduation traditions in different ways: 

  • Teach students to move their tassels from right to left before the big day.
  • Livestream graduation cap throws from students’ homes, or ask them to designate a time that other seniors in their neighborhood can perform cap throws together while remaining socially distant.
  • Encourage students to decorate the top of their caps to celebrate personal accomplishments—then share photos of their creations during the ceremony or on social media.
  • Incorporate creative social media features. TikTok created a filter that allows students to take a selfie holding a “diploma.” And renowned artist JR also created a Snapchat lens that students can use to be included in the largest yearbook, ever.
  • Use online software and programs to create a virtual ceremony experience. Some students are using popular games like Minecraft and Animal Crossing to recreate their campus. Others are using it to create a virtual stage students can “walk” on during the ceremony.

Make Your Virtual High School Graduation Ceremony an Interactive Experience

Although you’re planning a virtual event, you can still make it interactive and dynamic, just like we did for Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020. And you can do the same in your community.

Ask students, educators, and families to send you videos and pictures through email or create your own submission website using web platforms like Wix or Squarespace. Use the content to create slideshows and video montages, which you can show prior to the ceremony (while attendees get settled) or during segments of the ceremony program. 

And while you may not have time to show off everything that’s been submitted, you can keep the celebration going by posting the content to your school or district website, or to your school’s social networks.

Check out these examples of prompts designed to inspire people to contribute to your virtual high school graduation ceremony.

Prompts for Families WHAT THE CLASS OF 2020 TAUGHT ME Students have learned so much from their families. Use this opportunity to tell students what your family has learned from them. PROMPT: As adults, you are your child’s first teacher, so it’s easy to see students as just that—kids. But you know, more than anyone else, that teaching your child is as much about learning from them as it is about them learning from you. Share a 2- to 3-minute video about what you’ve learned from your student and the Class of 2020. Create an Interactive Graduation Experience 10 A LETTER OF THANKS Being an educator isn’t easy. And many families are beginning to truly understand how hard that job is as they support students who are learning remotely. Ask families to share how much they appreciate your school’s educators. PROMPT: Families like yours are getting a taste of what it’s like to be a teacher. We know; it’s hard! That’s why it’s so important to show teachers how much we appreciate the work they’ve done and continue to do. Share a 2- to 3-minute video to give them a shoutout. SCHOOL SPIRIT Many families have active students in school groups, clubs, and organizations. Ask families to showcase their students’ hard work over the last school year by sending you a clip of their child in action. PROMPT: Nothing says school spirit like student groups, clubs, and organizations. Showcase the awesome work your student(s) did this year. Submit a photo or 10- to 15- second video highlighting an aspect of their best performance, competition, show, artwork, capstone work, etc. Prompts for Educators WHAT THE CLASS OF 2020 TAUGHT ME Students have learned a lot from educators, and graduation is a great time to tell students what educators learned from them. PROMPT: As adults, it’s easy to see students as “kids.” But you know more than anyone else, that teaching is as much about learning from your students as it is about them learning from you. Share a 2- to 3-minute video about what you’ve learned from the Class of 2020. SCHOOL SPIRIT There are so many great student groups, clubs, and organizations. Ask the teachers and staff members involved in them to showcase their students’ hard work over the school year. PROMPT: Nothing says school spirit like student groups, clubs, and organizations. Showcase the awesome work your students did this year. Submit a photo or 10- to 15- second video highlighting an aspect of their best performance, competition, artwork, capstone work, etc. ABOVE AND BEYOND Ask teachers and staff to share stories about educators at your school who have gone above and beyond to ensure students succeed whether your building is open or closed. PROMPT: Do you know a fellow educator who’s gone above and beyond to ensure students succeed whether school buildings are open or closed? Is that someone you? Submit a video 2- to 3-minute video sharing these stories. EVERYDAY HERO From teachers who go the extra mile for students to cafeteria team members working overtime to provide meals to hungry families, your school community is filled with everyday heroes. Ask educators to share uplifting stories from your school. PROMPT: From teachers and school leaders to janitors and families, there are so many people who work outside the constructs of their job title to ensure students succeed. Do you know an everyday hero in your school community whose story deserves to be told? Or is that someone you? Submit a 2- to 3-minute video telling the everyday hero’s story. Prompts for Students WORDS OF WISDOM Your students will be entering the next phase of their life, sooner rather than later. This prompt gives them an opportunity to be the experts and share advice with adults and students who’ll come after them. PROMPT: You did it. You made it to your senior year. And we know you’ve learned a lot along the way. You’ve gotten advice from adults for your entire life. Now it’s your turn to give advice to them, and to the students who will come after you. What have you learned about making the world a better place that adults need to hear? What advice would you give to younger students to inspire them to change the world? Submit a 2- to 3-minute video. STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEECH Ask students to submit a mini version of a commencement speech they’d like to give their graduating class. Choose one or several to present during the ceremony. PROMPT: What’s the lasting message you’d want to tell the Class of 2020? Be the voice of your graduating class. Submit a 2- to 3-minute video of a commencement speech you’d give the Class of 2020. #2020GRADLIFE The Class of 2020 has experienced a spring semester like no other. It’s unlikely that another group of graduates will experience anything like that of the Class of 2020’s. But that’s what makes this graduating class so awesome. Ask students to share the fun quirks of remote learning that make it all worthwhile. PROMPT: You’re experiencing a senior year unlike any other. You’re expected to do things many of us never have. Share the funniest moments of your one-of-a- kind experience. Then, post it on social media using the hashtag #2020GradLife. Show us the fun and goofy “you know you’re a 2020 senior when...” moments that make it all worth it with a photo or 10- to 15-second video. SCHOOL SPIRIT Give students an opportunity to showcase the great work many of their student groups, clubs, and organizations have done during this school year. PROMPT: Are you in a student group, club, or organization? Showcase the awesome work you’ve done this year. Submit a photo or 10- to 15-second video highlighting an aspect of your school’s best performances, competitions, shows, artwork, capstone work, etc. #THANKSFORTEACHINGME Encourage students to share a message of appreciation for all the teachers who have helped them reach this momentous point in their life. PROMPT: You’ve worked so hard to get where you are. Who are the people who have supported you along the way? Your teachers, school leaders, coaches, and mentors are all part of your story. Give the people who have made the biggest impacts in your life a shoutout. Submit a 2- to 3- minute video. Then, share it on social media using #ThanksForTeachingMe.Managing the Logistics of Your Virtual High School Graduation Ceremony

Planning the logistics of a virtual graduation ceremony is very similar to planning an in-person one, but with different tools. Here’s a step-by-step process that integrates the technological aspect of your event:

Step One: Set a Date

Set a date for the big day and remember to coordinate within your district, CMO, and/or community. Decide whether you want to host your own ceremony or a larger joint ceremony with other schools in your district.

Step Two: Choose a Platform 

If you have an existing video conferencing license, check to see that it meets your ceremony’s attendance needs. If it doesn’t, you may be able to share the ceremony through a livestream.

Here’s a decision tree to help you through the thought process:

Decision Tree for deciding platforms for virtual graduation

Step Three: Review Tech Platforms

Platform Resources
Zoom
BlueJeans
  • Schedule a meeting with your existing license.
  • Consider asking your student and staff speakers to record their content in advance, then upload and share it with your attendees via screen share.
  • If your BlueJeans license doesn’t meet your graduation attendance needs, here is how you can broadcast a livestream of your meeting to Facebook.
WebEx
  • Schedule a meeting or event with your existing license.
  • Ask speakers to record their content in advance, then share it with your attendees.
  • If your Webex license doesn’t meet your graduation attendance needs, here’s more information on how to broadcast a livestream of your meeting to platforms like Facebook.
Facebook Live
  • Get started with Facebook Live here.
  • You will have the option to go live instantly or schedule a livestream in advance. You will also have the option to screen share.
  • Decide where and how to promote your livestream.
  • Consider asking your speakers to record their content in advance, then share it with your attendees during your Facebook Live broadcast.

Be sure to explore other options, too. No matter which platform you choose, consider putting together a committee to help manage the production of your graduation event. Then, do a test run of the full ceremony several times before the big day to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch.

Step Four: Determine Guests and Create Invitations

It’s important to get a good estimate of how many people will be attending your online ceremony. Depending on the platform and accompanying license you choose, there may be limitations regarding how many viewers it has the capacity to host.

Send out invitations and RSVPs to students, their families, and any relevant community members like school board members, district or network leadership, and other community leaders.

Step Five: Gather Content From Students, Educators, and Families

Once you have a good idea of your tech needs, it’s a good time to revisit the “Make Your Virtual High School Graduation Ceremony an Interactive Experience” section of this guide.

Determine where you want students, educators, and families to send videos and photos (i.e. a specific email address or submission website). Then, send out a call for submissions through email, on your school or submission website, and on social media channels.

Step Six: Create a Commemorative Program

Send attendees a digital link or attachment of your graduation program. Be sure it lists every graduate’s name and includes the agenda, as well as any other special recognitions.

Celebrate Graduates With Your Community With Wrap-Around Experiences

High school graduation is a time when entire communities come together. Although social distancing orders are in place, there’s no reason you can’t continue to engage with students, teachers, families, community organizations—your whole community—in celebrating the Class of 2020 from a distance. 

Already Celebrating Your High School Seniors Locally? Share what you’re doing with high school students, educators, and families on the XQ Forum. And hopefully, it will bring joy to a high school community and inspire them to follow your lead.

Join the Rethink Together Forum Community

The Rethink Together Forum is a place where high school students, teachers, leaders, and families can stay connected, especially during a time when we all need a sense of community. It’s a source for engaging content, eye-opening learning experiences, and honest dialogue.

✅ On-demand videos
✅ Moderated conversations with experts
✅ Forum & roundtable discussions
✅ Interactive learning experiences
✅ Exclusive live programming

Graduate Together Yearbook from Inside Out Project

Ask Students to Join the Largest Yearbook, Ever

Renowned artist JR and his global participatory art project, Inside Out, are inviting high school seniors everywhere to share their own portraits to be included in the largest yearbook, ever. The Graduate Together Yearbook allows seniors to express themselves in a one-of-a-kind way, together with every high school senior in America. There’s even a cool Snapchat lens for students to use during submission and on social media.

Teach for the Future Facebook Group from XQ Institute

Create a Facebook Group

This is a great way for educators, students, and families to stay connected about graduation-related activities. Here are instructions on how to create a Facebook Group.

student on phone

Host an Online Graduation Party

Follow the same steps from the “CEREMONY LOGISTICS” section to host an online graduation party. Make it family-friendly or encourage students to plan their own. Use the chat function of your video conferencing platform for students to send each other well-wishes and share memories from the school year. You can even work with a local or student DJ to create a playlist for the event.

senior photo driveway

Farica West, Principal, Poplar Springs High School

Create a Senior Photo Driveway

To celebrate graduates, a Florida principal enlarged the senior portrait of each graduating student and lined both sides of the street leading to the school with those photos. See the story here.

decorated front doors for the class of 2020

Encourage Families to Decorate Their Front Doors

Families everywhere are celebrating their graduates by decorating their front doors for the entire neighborhood to see. See more examples here.

School bus parade to celebrate the class of 2020 Have a School Bus Parade

Decorate school buses and drive them around your community at a specific time and date. Students, families, and community members can stand in their driveways or look outside their windows to enjoy the parade from a distance.

Fire station with fire trucks

Ask the Community to Join the Fun

Firefighters in Ohio honored the class of 2020 by flashing their lights for 20 minutes and 20 seconds. High schools around the country did something similar by keeping stadium lights on for the same amount of time.

Zoom background: PROUD MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2020

Make Templates to Use During the Ceremony or on Social Media

Provide attendees with these ready-made Class of 2020 ZOOM background and printable posters to show off during your virtual ceremony or on social media posts. You can also design your own using your school colors.

Important Reminders for Your Virtual High School Graduation Ceremony

Technology: While planning your school’s online graduation ceremony, it’s important to acknowledge that not all students will have internet access or the required technology to view it. Maybe your school has already figured out how to ensure that all students have the devices and internet access they need for remote learning; those tools will help with your online graduation, too.

If your school hasn’t taken those steps, now’s the time to make sure every single graduate and their families have the internet access and technology necessary to celebrate this important milestone with the entire school community.

  • Check the internet providers in your area to see if they can help with low-cost or free access for graduating seniors and their families. Comcast, for example, is offering free services for qualified applicants through its Internet Essentials program. There are similar programs from AT&T and Sprint.
  • In some areas, families can connect through publicly available WiFi hotspots at places like public libraries.
  • EveryoneON is a resource you can use to help families in your area find low-cost internet service and devices.

Accessibility: It’s crucial to take steps that include students with disabilities during your remote graduation ceremony. For example, you can incorporate assistive or adaptive technology listed in the student’s IEP or 504 plan (i.e., voice to text, text to voice, closed captioning, etc.) to make your graduation accessible to all students. You can also brainstorm with families on the best solutions to include students with disabilities.

Here are some additional resources to support students with disabilities:

More Virtual Graduation Resources:

Are you a member of the Class of 2020 or is your loved one? Share a reflection about their virtual graduation with us. Send an email to blog@xqinstitute.org.

Check out the Rethink Together Forum to connect with high school students, educators, and families about what’s possible. Here are some hot topics people are talking about on the forum:

Voices from School Closures:

School Closure Resources:

Former Senior Digital Copywriter, XQ Institute

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