West Contra Costa Schools Release Car-Based Graduation Schedule

RICHMOND, CA — As seniors around the country have experienced their final months of high school much differently than ever before due to the coronavirus pandemic, the West Contra Costa Unified School District announced recently that one rite of passage will take place in person.

In a letter to district families on Tuesday, West Contra Costa superintendent Matthew Duffy announced a car-based graduation ceremony schedule for the the district's high schools. Duffy said that the current plan calls for the largest schools to spread the ceremonies over two days in order to maintain the appropriate social distancing.

While Duffy wrote that the district is “extremely relived to finally have clear guidance” that allows the district to acknowledge the Class of 2020 in person, the ceremonies will comply with county health guidelines that were announced last week for regulated car-based social gatherings.

Each of the graduation ceremonies will be by appointment and each graduate will be limited to one car and visitors are limited to people who live in the same household, Duffy wrote. The district is submitting its plans to Contra Costa Health Services for review and approval.

Each school will put together a commemorative video to celebrate its own graduating class. As of now, the schedule includes the following dates and times:

Hercules High School May 27, 28: 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Middle College May 29 or May 30: 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

El Cerrito High School June 1,2: 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

De Anza High School June 1: 2-4 p.m.; June 2: 9-11 a.m.

Richmond High School June 3: 3-6 p.m.; June 4: 2-5 p.m.

Kennedy High School June 4: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 5: 4-7 p.m.

Pinole Valley High School June 4: 4-7 p.m.; June 5: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Vista High School June 5: 3-6 p.m.

Sylvester Greenwood Academy June 6: 3-6 p.m.