June 17, 2026, proved to be an unforgettable "Super Wednesday" for local families, as three major area high schools held their commencement ceremonies on the exact same evening.

With Seattle Public Schools currently rebuilding historic Memorial Stadium, the district shifted its traditional venue logistics, creating a high-profile, back-to-back graduation doubleheader downtown. Meanwhile, Highline Public Schools sent its local White Center graduates south to a regional arena.

Here is how the historic night unfolded for the Class of 2026.

The McCaw Hall Doubleheader: Chief Sealth and West Seattle

Moving the Seattle ceremonies to McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center completely transformed the atmosphere this year. The elegant indoor theater traded the traditional blustery stadium air for a closer, highly theatrical stage setting that comfortably packed in thousands of roaring local families.

Chief Sealth International High School 

The Seahawks kicked off the downtown festivities with more than 320 graduates taking the stage.

• The Leadership: Principal Hope Perry and first-year District Superintendent Ben Shuldiner welcomed the crowd, marking Shuldiner’s first official commencement circuit with the district.

• The Voices: Valedictorian Addison Wynn Johnson-Whited delivered a poignant address, reminding peers that they entered high school as the first class entirely post-pandemic, tasked with actively rebuilding Sealth’s close-knit community spirit from scratch. Graduate Siyam Mohamed followed with a moving speech delivered partly in multiple languages, celebrating the deep cultural diversity of the student body.

• The Milestone: The ceremony concluded in high gear as tassel-turn speaker Satomi Giedeman repeatedly rallied the crowd with shouts of "Are you ready?" before the graduates turned their tassels and sent a cascade of caps into the air.

West Seattle High School 

As soon as the Sealth crowds cleared the building, a sea of blue and gold took over the McCaw Hall plaza as the Wildcats arrived to close out the night.

• Academic Excellence: Principal Brian Vance introduced a remarkably accomplished graduating class that featured an impressive 18 valedictorians on the commencement program. Graduate Sam LeBaron took the microphone to deliver the collective valedictory address.

• A Standout Performance: In a night filled with cheers, one of the quietest moments was also the most memorable. Graduate Elinor Largent took the stage for a striking, crowd-pleasing solo musical performance of "Don't Dream It's Over."

• The Final Cheer: After the School Board officially accepted the Class of 2026, the night concluded with the traditional "spelldown" cheer echoing through the theater corridors.

Evergreen High School Celebrated in the South Sound 

Simultaneously, just a few miles south, the Wolverines of Evergreen High School celebrated their own major milestone at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent.

Because White Center and Burien families always show up in massive numbers to support their grads, Highline Public Schools utilized the regional arena to ensure ample seating for everyone. Students boarded district transportation from the school campus directly to Kent, where they walked an immersive, arena-style stage layout. Despite tight arena security screenings and clear-bag policies, the energy remained high as the Class of 2026 took their final steps as high schoolers and officially pivoted toward their futures.

Community Takeaway: Despite shifting venues and split-second logistics across King County, June 17 stood out as a monumental showcase of resilience for local students who began their high school journeys in a period of intense uncertainty and finished it together in the spotlight.

You can watch the West Seattle graduation ceremonies here.

Watch the Sealth graduation ceremonies here