News
GGUSD Celebrates Accomplishments and Resilience of the Class of 2026
- Thursday, May 28, 2026
More than 3,000 high school seniors from Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) graduated from the district’s eight high schools during graduation ceremonies held May 26-27 at the district’s stadiums at Bolsa Grande and Garden Grove high schools.
GGUSD friends and family members filled the stadiums to cheer on their graduates. Ceremonies featured inspiring student musical performances as well as heartwarming speeches from students, principals, and board of education members, reading of the names, presentation of class gifts, presentation of the Class of 2026, and awarding of diplomas.
This year’s graduation celebrations came at the end of an especially challenging week for the GGUSD community following the chemical hazmat incident in Garden Grove that prompted the evacuation of approximately 50,000 residents and temporarily closed Rancho Alamitos and Pacifica high schools, along with ten other GGUSD elementary and intermediate schools. While evacuation orders impacting many GGUSD families were lifted on the same evening graduation ceremonies began, the incident did not dampen the celebratory spirit of the Class of 2026. Students, staff, and families came together with resilience, gratitude, and pride to honor this important milestone and celebrate the achievements of GGUSD graduates.
Among the Class of 2026, more than 930 students report that they have chosen to attend a UC or CSU school. Students in the Class of 2026 finished high school with more than 11,100 Advanced Placement courses completed and earned nearly 7,500 college credits through GGUSD’s dual enrollment opportunities. Students also completed more than 1,200 Career Pathways.
“The accomplishments of GGUSD’s Class of 2026 reflect years of hard work, dedication, and support from families, teachers, and staff,” said Board of Education President Bob Harden. “These graduates are not only ready for college and careers — they are ready to lead, serve, and make a difference in the world.”
The Class of 2026 includes more than 580 seniors who earned the state’s Seal of Biliteracy for fluency in two or more languages and 1,300 scholars who earned the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma demonstrating mastery in at least six subject areas.
The ceremonies were streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel to be viewed by friends and family who could not attend the in-person ceremonies. Visit GGUSD Graduation Livestreams to view the livestream links.
