This year, graduation for Jackson-Reed’s class of 2025 coincides with a military parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 79th birthday. Both events are scheduled to occur on June 14th, which has brought up numerous issues for seniors and their families. 

The parade is planned to start with ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery and then a procession of Army tanks and soldiers through the Capital, before culminating in an enlistment ceremony presided over by Trump and fireworks. It is estimated that the parade will cost around $25 to $45 million; however, that excludes costs that DC would have to bear, like public maintenance and damages caused by soldiers or tanks.

The parade also brings about a larger issue for the Jackson-Reed community. Graduation is hosted at the Carefirst arena in Southeast, which is about 13 miles away from JR and can take over 45 minutes to reach without traffic. With the parade, there will be numerous street closures throughout downtown, which will only increase travel time for many families.

Senior Anjali Dave said that, “it is so so frustrating, it’s going to make getting across town with a bunch of family members really impossible.” She pointed out that Walls has already changed the time of their graduation in response. 

Senior Sirona Mayes added that, “leaving the venue will be impossible and everyone will have to leave their house so much earlier, so it’s going to be a mess.” 

Every year, DCPS chooses the dates for graduation and Principal Sah Brown said that DCPS has changed the time or location for “schools that were affected because they took place at a venue that is in close proximity to where the parade is being held.” However, for Jackson-Reed, the location of graduation was deemed as outside of the areas where there’ll be road closures and parade events, thus, the location and time was not moved.

Graduation is not the only JR senior event affected by large DC-wide events, with Prom falling during WorldPride and coinciding with the Pride Parade and a performance by Cynthia Erivo. 

Mayes said that “while it is logistically bad, it will be so fun to have them on the same day.” However, several seniors have noted concerns that taking photos at the monuments will be disrupted because of the number of people at the monuments and downtown in general.