Seniors Cloie Sablan (left) and Isabella Moustachetti pose together before the Roberts High School commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. Sablan credited Moustachetti with helping her get through high school. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
High schools across Salem and Keizer held commencement ceremonies the week of Friday, June 5, graduating 2,991 students.
That’s compared to 2,970 last year and 2,778 five years ago.
That included 74 receiving diplomas during ceremonies for Roberts High School at Chemeketa, the district’s alternative high school which offers supportive education programs, including for teen parents. The event was held outdoors at Olympic Stadium at Sprague High School.
Students adorned their graduation caps with whimsical, encouraging or serious messages honoring their achievement. Friends and relatives brought plenty of bouquets, balloons and leis of money to honor the graduates.
The Salem-Keizer School District also conducted special celebrations for seniors in migrant education and native education and cultural graduation events for Black/African American students, Pacific Islanders and a green carnation event for LGBTQ+.
“The district hosts graduation celebrations for students of groups who have historically struggled to graduate or faced barriers in school,” according to the district’s website. “These inclusive events allow students to receive special regalia and unite with peers who share their experiences and identities.”
Graduate Antonio Arizmendez smiles while wearing a lei made of money before the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Graduate Kiara Bailey celebrates with family and friends after the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. Bailey was one of the seniors featured in Salem Reporter’s Class of 2026 graduation profiles. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Christian Moreno addresses the audience during the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)Senior Brooklynn Moreno waits for the start of the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate celebrates after the commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate expresses their feelings through a decorated mortarboard during the commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. A graduation cap stating “The World is Yours” references the movie “Scarface.” (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School seniors listen to commencement speakers at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Graduate Clever Santiago Ambrosio takes a moment to reflect before the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Graduate Kiara Bailey lines up to enter Olympic Stadium before the Roberts High School commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Senior speaker Christian Moreno puases before taking the stage at the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. Moreno plans to open his own barbershop after graduation. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School graduates lean in for a conversation before entering Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School seniors line up to enter Olympic Stadium before the commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Graduate Yoselin Ochoa and friend Marilea Ortega pause to enjoy commencement at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Decorated mortarboards dot the crowd during the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. “No mourners. No Funerals.” comes from the popular young adult fantasy book, “Six of Crows.” (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Senior Elijah Stubenrauch leads the processional line during the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Seniors Aiden Hayes and Rodney Wright wait in line before the Roberts High School commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School Assistant Principal Lisa McIntyre reviews the student processional line before the commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School seniors march into Olympic Stadium for their commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate switches her tassel from right to left during the commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School staff member shares a laugh with a student before entering Olympic Stadium for the commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School staff members applaud senors as they enter Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School seniors march into Olympic Stadium for their commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School graduates celebrate with family and friends after their commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Salutatorian Kiara Bailey delivers her address during the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
Relatives cheer for graduates during the Roberts High School commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
The Roberts High School class of 2026 exits Olympic Stadium following the commencement ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate receives leis from relatives following the commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate proudly displays their diploma at Olympic Stadium during commencement on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate celebrates after the commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate celebrates after thei commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
A Roberts High School graduate celebrates after the commencement ceremony at Olympic Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter)
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