Over 200 Dallas ISD students participated in a summer commencement ceremony, held on Aug. 5 at Alfred J. Loos Field House to celebrate those who completed their high school graduation requirements after the traditional school year.
“This is a vital event acknowledging those students who needed additional time or support to meet graduation requirements after the traditional school year ends,” Leslie Swann, director of Advocacy & Outreach for the Graduation, Recovery, Attendance, Advocacy, and Dropout Intervention department. “It is a second chance for completion prior to the next school year, students can maintain academic momentum, helping them stay on course for future endeavors, and it is a celebration of persistence.”
A significant milestone, summer graduation provides an important second opportunity for students who need additional time or support to earn their diplomas. Hosted by GRAAD, it honors students who persevered through challenges to cross the finish line and prepare for their next chapters.
To help students catch up on credits after May, the GRAAD department offers three of the district’s five high school credit recovery and acceleration programs at Reconnection Centers.
These programs provide continued learning opportunities beyond the traditional school year, ensuring scholars can reach their graduation goals. GRAAD team members regularly check in with students, offer motivation, set goals, and lead important life-lesson conversations, demonstrating the district’s unwavering belief in each scholar’s potential.
“Earning a high school diploma is a powerful testament to commitment, perseverance, and belief in the future. The students have demonstrated determination, resilience, and can overcome any challenge. May they carry this strength with them for a lifetime,” Swann said.
Summer graduation serves as both a celebration and a reminder that perseverance leads to achievement. Dallas ISD congratulates the class of 2025 summer graduates and wishes them success in their next chapter.
