Graduation - Class of 2027

Graduation is Thursday, June 10, 2027 at 8:00am at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Principal Pittman shared the date as a "Save the Date." More details are coming from the school.

If you check the school's Senior Class Information page and see graduation listed as TBD, that page has not caught up yet. June 10 is the date Mr. Pittman gave families.

Everything on this page is graduation itself: the ceremony, tickets, caps and gowns, regalia, rehearsal, and what your senior has to clear before they can walk. Start-of-year forms and school business live on School Information & Forms.

The Ceremony

• Thursday, June 10, 2027 at 8:00am
• Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh
• The Class of 2027 is about 700 seniors, one of the largest yet

Mid-Year Graduation (January)

Seniors who finish their requirements in January do not have to wait for June - AFHS holds a separate mid-year graduation ceremony for them.

• Thursday, January 14, 2027 at 6:00pm, AFHS Auditorium - confirmed on the school's senior class information page
• Midyear Graduates Meeting - November: midyear graduates meet to get information about their graduation ceremony options, exams, and more
• A smaller, more personal ceremony: every student walks across the stage and receives their diploma
• Families report no limit on how many family and friends can attend per student, unlike the June ceremony

Tickets

Nothing about graduation tickets has been announced for the Class of 2027. How many each family gets, how they are distributed, and when they arrive are all set by the school closer to graduation.

What we can say for now:

• Tickets have been limited in past years, and the Class of 2027 is about 700 seniors, one of the largest yet. Plan for a limit, but do not plan around a specific number until the school announces one
• When families end up with extras, some share them on the Class of 2027 Facebook group. That is parent-to-parent, not a school process
• Questions? Contact Mr. Pittman ([email protected])

Cap and Gown

Caps and gowns are ordered through Jostens. Jostens comes to campus to take orders in September (exact date TBD). Caps and gowns are handed out in the spring, during lunch in the auditorium lobby.

• Your cap and gown photos are separate, taken at your CADY senior portrait session (see Senior Pictures)
• Questions about caps and gowns go to Ms. Matthews ([email protected])

Honor Cords, Stoles, and Regalia

Seniors who earn certain honors or Latin honors, or who belong to groups like National Honor Society, may wear cords, stoles, or other regalia at graduation.

Which honors carry regalia at AFHS, and how students receive or order it, is set by the school and the sponsoring groups. We will add specifics here as they are confirmed. Questions go to your counselor or the group's advisor.

Graduation Rehearsal & Senior Awards

AFHS combines graduation rehearsal and Senior Awards into one evening, and it has been a required event for seniors who plan to walk. The date has not been set - the school sets it once the graduation date is confirmed.

Everything below describes how this evening has run in the past. None of it is confirmed for the Class of 2027, and times, requirements, and deadlines can all change. Treat it as a heads-up on what to expect, not as a plan, and confirm with the school before arranging anything around it.

The schedule has run roughly like this:

• Graduation tickets have been handed out at rehearsal, and seniors who missed the evening did not receive them or walk. If that holds for 2027, this is an evening you cannot skip - but wait for the school to confirm it
• Conflicts had to be cleared with the principal ahead of time, in early June
• Seniors wear caps and gowns. Formal or casual clothes underneath are both fine, and wearing shoes similar to graduation day is encouraged if they are not what you usually wear
• Parents of seniors receiving awards were notified in advance, around mid-May
• The awards program celebrates scholarships and accomplishments, so sharing your senior's news with AFHS during the year helps make sure it is included

Graduation Speaker

Seniors can apply to speak at graduation. Applications open in February 2027.

• Preference goes to students with strong academics, strong involvement in school activities, and a strong pattern of positive choices
• The deadline and application link come from the school

Before They Can Walk: Obligations and Clearance

Before graduation, seniors usually need to clear any outstanding obligations, such as returning their Chromebook and charger, textbooks, and library books, and paying any unpaid fees.

AFHS will publish the exact clearance steps and deadline for the Class of 2027. Unpaid fees or unreturned items can hold up graduation participation, so watch for the school's instructions and confirm with Student Services.

Around Graduation

Other end-of-year events have their own pages:

• Baccalaureate - a ceremony honoring seniors before graduation, open to all faiths. It only happens if a parent steps up to organize it
• Senior Sunset - follows Senior Awards, on the AFHS football field. See the Senior Calendar

Photos

We do not post pictures of students on this hub. It is a parent-made resource, not an official PTSA webpage.

Photos are shared on the AFHS PTSA senior page, the official home for senior photos, and on the committee Instagram, @afhs_ptsa_seniors_2027.

collegehound.com/community/afhs/seniors

Last updated: August 1, 2026