Graduation
Class of 2026 Graduation
Friday, May 22, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Maiden High School – Thomas E. Brown Stadium
MHS Graduation Event Information
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Date: Wednesday, April 22nd immediately after school (2:45 p.m.)
Location: Seminar Room
Contact with questions: Kelly_Shehan@catawbaschools.net -
Date: Friday, May 1st during 1st period
Location: Seniors will assemble in the front lobby when announced.
Information: Seniors should wear a Maiden t-shirt or dress in school colors
Contact with questions: Christie_Moza@catawbaschools.net -
Date: Friday, May 1st during Pitchfork (10:33am-11:03am)
Location: MHS Auditorium
Information: Any senior who plans to participate in the graduation ceremony MUST attend this meeting! Staff members will go over proper attire, etiquette, procedures, and dates/times for all senior obligations for the remainder of the year.
Make-up Meeting: If you cannot attend the May 1st meeting, you MUST contact Mrs. Richardson. You will be requried to attend the make-up meeting on Friday, May 8th after school (2:40pm) in Room #601
Contact with questions: Bobbi_Richardson@catawbaschools.net -
Date: Monday, May 11th during Pitchfork (10:33am-11:03am)
Location: Seniors should report to HOMEROOM first for instructions, and then they will proceed to pickup items in the Media Center.
Information:Students who did not pre-order a yearbook can purchase one on this day for $90.00 (limited supply available).
Contact with questions: Elizabeth_Taylor@catawbaschools.net (yearbook advisor) -
Date: Monday, May 11th during Pitchfork (10:33am-11:03am)
Location: Seniors should report to HOMEROOM first for instructions, and then they will proceed to the Media Center to turn in their Chromebooks (with CHARGER & PROTECTIVE SHELL). Students should check their email for a list of any other items or books they owe to the media center.
Information: ONLY SENIORS WHO DO NOT HAVE EXAMS WILL TURN IN THEIR CHROMEBOOKS ON THIS DAY! Seniors will exams will turn in their Chromebooks immediately after their last exam. All Chromebooks, Chargers, Books, Calculators, etc. must by turned in or fines paid prior to Graduation practice!
Contact with questions: Jennifer_Pendley@catawbaschools.net (Media Coordinator) -
Date: Thursday, May 14th during 4th period (1:45pm)
Location: MHS Gymnasium – Seniors on campus will report to 4th period and then leave class at 1:45pm to go to the gym.
Information: Seniors must attend this practice. This is a practice for Awards Day AND Inside Graduation (in the case of rain)
Contact with questions: shannon_vanspanje@catawbaschools.net (Guidance Counselor) -
Date: Thursday, May 14th from 7:00pm-9:00pm
Location: MHS Football Field
Information: This event is sponsored by the MHS Athletic Boosters as a celebration for seniors. There will be free food and games and a time to hang out one last time as a class. Please wear an MHS shirt or a shirt to indicate your future plans! We hope to get lots of photos to share with seniors and parents.
Contact with questions: Zindy_Wilfong@catawbaschools.net -
Date: Friday, May 15th (8:30am) Seniors need to arrive BEFORE 8:00am
Location: MHS Gymnasium – Seniors on campus will report to 4th period and then leave class at 1:45pm to go to the gym.
Information: Seniors must wear Cap & Gown with proper attire underneath. Awards Day is mandatory and is also a practice for Inside Graduation (in the case of rain)
Seniors will report directly to the auditorium that morning, dressed and ready prior to the ceremony. Senior parents are invited to attend the ceremony. If you received a scholarship or a grant, please email your guidance counselor with the proof by either letter or email that was sent to you. THEY NEED TO RECEIVE THIS BY FRIDAY, MAY 8th.
Contact with questions: shannon_vanspanje@catawbaschools.net -
Date: Friday, May 15th after Awards Day
Times: Maiden MS @ 1:00pm, Maiden ES @ 1:30 pm, Startown ES @ 1:45 pm, Tuttle ES @ 2:00 pm
Information & Dress: We ask that all seniors plan to return to his/her Maiden Feeder Elementary/Middle schools for a Graduation Walk. The schools make this very special, usually with refreshments and a walk through the halls in your cap/gown for the Elementary school students to see your “success” of graduating. -
Date: Sunday, May 17 th at 5:00 p.m. at Maiden High School Auditorium. Light reception to be held following the ceremony.
Information & Dress: Cap and gown with proper attire underneath. Seniors should arrive no later than 4:30 pm
Contact with questions: Christie_Moza@catawbaschools.net -
Date: Thursday, May 21 st at 1:00 p.m. (Maiden High School MAIN GYM) PLAN ON BEING THERE FOR 2 HOURS.
Information & Dress: Casual/Everyday (NOT cap/gown or proper attire). It will be HOT and we will be outside for most of the practice. You may also need sunscreen.Note about Tickets: Tickets and parking tickets will be handed out during the graduation rehearsal. If graduation is outside no tickets will be required. If graduation is inside due to rain, seniors will receive 10 tickets. (8 for the gym and 2for the auditorium) Tickets must be presented for admittance into gym. Do NOT lose tickets, there are NO replacements. Children above age 2 will need a ticket. Due to fire-code restrictions, everyone MUST have a ticket to get into the building if graduation is moved inside.
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Date: Friday, May 22 nd at 7:30 pm (Gates at the stadium will open at 6:30 p.m.)
Time: 6:45 p.m. Arrival time for all graduates. Report to the Aux gym
Location & Dress: Report to the Auxiliary gym with cap and gown in hand and proper attire underneath
(YOU WILL BE WANDED BEFORE YOU ARE ALLOWED INTO THE AUXILIARY GYM. DO NOT PUT YOUR GOWN ON, UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE ENTERED. CARRY YOUR GOWN WITH YOU!)
*REMEMBER THERE IS NO EXTRA RESERVED PARKING FOR GRADUATES. This means that even Graduates would need a parking pass if they are bringing their own car. For this reason, graduates are encouraged to be dropped off (so parking passes can be given to family members). You should be dropped off at the portico and walk to the side entrance of the auxiliary gym.Parking passes will be distributed during Graduation Practice. Each graduate will receive 2 passes that are good for parking at Maiden
High School. There will be additional parking at Maiden Middle School for those without a parking pass. There will be a shuttle that runs between Maiden Middle School and Maiden High School. The shuttle will begin 1 hour prior to the start of graduation and will run for 30 minutes after graduation. -
GRADUATION CEREMONY (due to inclement weather on the orginal date)
Date: Saturday, May 23rd at 8:00 am (Location with be either the Stadium or the Gym)
Location: Seniors need to report to the Auxiliary gym at 7:15 am.
Dress: Cap and gown with proper attire underneath
THERE IS NO RESERVED PARKING FOR GRADUATES!! Each graduate will still receive only 2 parking passes.
Graduation Requirements
The Catawba County Board of Education requires students to obtain 28 units of credit, including all graduation requirements established by the North Carolina State Board of Education, to earn a high school diploma.
All Catawba County traditional high schools operate on a 4 x 4 Block Schedule meaning that all students are enrolled in four 90-minute classes during the fall semester and four new 90-minute classes during the spring semester. At the conclusion of each semester, one unit of credit is earned for every class in which the student’s final semester average is 60 or higher. Each student has the potential of earning 4 units of credit per semester for a total of 8 units of credit each year and 32 credits over the span of 4 years.
Promotion and Graduation Requirements
| Grade | # of Credits |
| Sophomore | 6 credits |
| Junior | 13 credits |
| Senior | 20 credits |
| Graduation | 28 credits |
Note: Unless otherwise directed by the NC General Statute or the NC State Board of Education, all students are required to meet the graduation requirements that were in place the year the student entered the ninth grade.