Class of 2026
District News: HCPSS Class of 2026 Graduation Dates Set, May 26-June 3
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Class of 2026 graduation ceremony schedule is now available and listed below. All ceremonies are scheduled to take place at Merriweather Post Pavilion, with the exception of Cedar Lane School, which will be held at that school. Graduations will be available for viewing live online and on-demand following each ceremony, and will be rebroadcast on the HCPSS local cable channel in Howard County (Comcast 95, Verizon 42).
Class of 2026- Community Awards
Seniors, have you received recognition or an award from an organization outside HCPSS? Tell us! We want to hear from as many students as possible so that we can honor you and your award/recognition during Senior Awards. Please fill out the Google Form no later than April 24, 2026. Parents/guardians are also welcome to fill out the form.
Attention HCPSS Staff of Seniors! The tassel is worth the hassle, and graduation is just around the corner!
It's a time of celebration, reflection, and looking forward to the bright futures ahead. Imagine the joy of personally handing your graduating senior their diploma – a moment you'll both cherish forever! If you are an HCPSS staff member and would like to present your graduating senior with their diploma at the upcoming graduation ceremony, please reference the Staff Hub email published on 2/27 to sign up. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to add a touch of magic to your senior's special day. Let's make this graduation an unforgettable experience filled with pride and excitement.
CTE Graduation Cords
The HCPSS Career and Technology Education Program is now selling Honor Cords for purchase by graduating seniors. Sales will run through April 5, 2026. Purchases can be made directly here, and the flyer for CTE Honor Cord sales is linked here. Select the option for the comprehensive school to which your student is assigned. The cost is $8.00. The cord will be delivered to your student prior to graduation. If you have questions or need financial assistance, contact Ms. McKenna or Ms. Hall, your senior advisors at Homewood.
Sarapes (Stoles) for Hispanic/Latino Graduating Students
The HCPSS Hispanic Achievement Program is now selling sarapes (stoles) for purchase by graduating seniors. This is the only item your student is allowed to wear on top of their gown. The Hispanic “sarape” represents the ancient custom of wearing colorful textiles throughout all the ancient indigenous people of Latin America. These bright colors represented their devout spiritualism and the advanced knowledge they possessed. Additional history of the sarapes and the initiative in HCPSS for graduating seniors can be found here. Sales will run through May 2, 2026. Purchases can be made directly here, and flyers for sarape sales are linked here. Select the tab “Hispanic Achievement” to initiate the order, the cost is $22.25, or see the Hispanic Achievement Liaison at Homewood, Ms. Orris. The stole will be delivered to your student prior to graduation. If you have questions or need financial assistance, contact Homewood Center's Hispanic Achievement Liaison, Ms. Orris.
Kente Cloth Graduation Stoles
The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) is selling Kente cloth graduation stoles to families for graduating students. Sales will run through May 1, 2026. The flyer for the stole sale can be found linked here. Kente is a traditional African textile that the Ashanti people in Ghana and West Africa first weaved. Today, it is worn to pay homage to African ancestors and to show pride in the heritage of the Diaspora during ceremonial occasions. If you have questions or need financial assistance, contact Homewood Senior Class Advisors, Ms. Hall or Ms. McKenna.
District News: HCPSS Class of 2026 Graduation Window, May 18-June 4, 2026 -
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has received confirmation from Merriweather Post Pavilion (MPP) of the window for the Class of 2026 high school graduations as May 18-June 4, 2026.
No graduations will be held on weekends, or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25 or Eid al-Adha, the evening of Tuesday, May 26-Wednesday May 27. All ceremonies will be held in person at MPP, except for Cedar Lane School, which will hold its graduation at the school.
CLASS OF 2026 FAMILIES - 2026–27 FAFSA® Form Now Available - The 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now available to everyone. You can complete the form to apply for financial aid for attendance at college or career school between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. Here are some ways you can get ready to fill out your FAFSA form:
- Create a StudentAid.gov account (if you don’t already have one).
- Learn about the documents you may need to fill out the FAFSA form.
- Determine your dependency status and whether your parent(s) or spouse will be required to contribute information on your FAFSA form.
- If you’re a dependent student, use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your form.
- Start a 2026–27 FAFSA® Form
Congratulations!! You are Seniors!!
Class of 2026: Take time and map out when you will take care of all your requirements for college/trade school/apprenticeship applications. Use the HCPSS college checklist and decide which weeks you will focus on the different requirements. A sample plan is linked here.
Essential Resources
- HCPSS Class of 2026 College Application Google Site
- HCPSS School Counseling Canvas Page
- HCPSS College Application Checklist
- College Application Tracker
- FAFSA Opens October 1, 2025
Stay-tuned for important information for Seniors!
