IMHO you are better off with a send off (to college, military etc.). A week or two before s/he goes. Graduation time is super complicated with parties, ceremonies, school events, relatives flying in. Adding a party a party into that is just makes it more of a hassle during a time when you just want to take it all in.

I had a party after I graduated and in retrospect it would have been much more meaningful to spend time with my parents and grandparents rather than making the rounds thanking neighbors and friend’s parents for their gifts.

Of course that’s the perspective of a 50 year old who wishes I could have one more conversation with those people.

Oops. It should say all of my DC’s friends have had them.

All of my DC’s have had them. I am it sure how we are going to do it next year. Most have been at people’s homes, but ours is small and not for ideal for entertaining. It’s actually making me anxious thinking about it.

We did not for our first, and will not for our second. We go to the ceremony, then go out to eat. Cake at home.

Grandparents are far away and don't/can't travel. High school graduation isn't important enough for aunts/uncles to attend.

If you live in the mid-west, or in a small town, and relatives are nearby, then sure... it's a reason to throw a party. But, it's not the kind of "accomplishment" that warrants people spending money and time to travel to attend.

If you have a lot of friends in the area, again... it's an excuse to throw a party. But, I doubt your graduating kid cares about having a party at all.

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure they don’t all have graduation parties, but my high school junior has 11 graduation party invites for next weekend. So many students do have parties.

11 out of how big a class?

Most do not.

No, most do not. At least not beyond family members.

Going out to dinner is common.

IMO, yes. Most either have a party, typically a backyard cookout, or a group dinner at a place like Maggiano's with cake and balloons. It's also totally fine not to. I know a few families who didn't do that. My older son had a huge backyard cookout. My younger son did not want that, so we just went to lunch right after with his girlfriend and her mom.

No, my son and his friends didn't have one.

Not in DCPS that I know of. DC only invited to one. But, I heard from a someone with a senior that in VA (not sure school system) they have spreadsheets with the dates so all the graduation parties don't overlap.

We took the extended family out to dinner after graduation. Then a few weeks later after all my kids' friends from different schools had also graduated, we hosted a party for all of them. We are usually the gathering house, so it made sense. I think two other families of the group also hosted parties at different times.

Anonymous wrote:We offered our son the option, and he decided against it. We'll do a nice dinner to celebrate, and later this summer when our extended family is at my dad's beach house, I'll get a cake one night.

My son opted for the same. He enjoyed going to all the other parties, but was happy with a steakhouse after graduation (and so was I!)

Kid 1 small at home casual pool party, basic catering

Kid 2 lunch with about 20 people the day after graduation

Anonymous wrote:Probably depends on culture.

This. I know some folks whose kid had a 3-day party at a hotel, and she wasn’t the only one in her circle. But the culture there definitely skewed toward lower income and not necessarily college-bound.

Probably depends on culture.

Anonymous wrote:We had one, most of my kids friends had one. We had a 150 people and it was an 8 hour rager, good fun. We're doing destination with family and friends in Bermuda for undergrad, we'll do another big one when they graduate med school. Have the party.

Omg