Graduation
Apple Valley High School - Class of 2026
AVHS Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony will be held in the brand-new University of St. Thomas, Lee and Penny Anderson Arena.
Saturday, May 30, 10:00 a.m.
This ceremony will be a ticketed event, which St. Thomas requires. More information on tickets will be posted as the date approaches.
Senior Timeline
December 2025
- 12/1/2025 - Senior Picture submission due.
- Any students who did not submit senior portraits in December will have their Lifetouch portrait included in the 2026 yearbook.
January 2026
- 1/15/2026 - Cap & Gown Orders Begin: Online Order Form
- 1/15/26 - Graduation Fee payment window opens
February 2026
- 2/17/2026 - Cap + Gown Order Deadline: Online Order Form
- Ongoing - Pay Graduation Fee
March 2026
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Ongoing - Sign-up for Senior Party. Link will be posted when available.
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Ongoing - Pay Graduation Fee
April 2026
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Ongoing - Sign-up for Senior Party. Link will be posted when available.
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Ongoing - Pay Graduation Fee
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TBD - Prom: tickets go on sale
May 2026
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Ongoing - Sign-up for Senior Party. Link will be posted when available.
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Ongoing - Pay Graduation Fee
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TBD - Prom: ticket sales end
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TBD - College Signing Day
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TBD - Senior Awards
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5/9/2026 - Prom: McNamara Alumni Center, U of M 6:00-11:00 PM
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TBD - Senior Survey Closes
- 5/20/26 - Cap and Gown Distribution
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5/28/26 – Last day of school for graduating seniors
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5/29/26 – Graduation Fee Final deadline / Senior Party ticket deadline - Link will be posted when available.
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5/29/26 – Graduation Rehearsal - All graduates MUST attend - 9:00AM at AVHS
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5/30/26 – 8:30AM Graduates board busses at AVHS to University of St. Thomas, Lee and Penny Anderson Arena
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10:00AM Graduation Ceremony, University of St. Thomas, Lee and Penny Anderson Arena
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5/30/26 - TBD PM Busses leave AVHS for Senior Party (Don't be late!)
June 2026
- Ongoing - Student Meal Account Refund/Transfer Request for PayPams (Lunch) account balances
- Ongoing - Transfer Google Files to personal accounts before deactivation
Calendar View of Timeline:
Stream the Ceremony
Graduation Orders & Fees
DIRECTIONS FOR PARENT/GUARDIAN TO PAY GRADUATION FEE:
Log into EduTrak & Choose Athletics/Activities/Fine Arts Registration
Select Register next to your Student’s Name
Select [TBD]
Graduation Fee is [TBD]. If you have applied for Educational Benefits for the 24-25 school year, you may have a reduced fee. If you have not applied for Educational Benefits yet, you can still do so here https://avhs.district196.org/families/educational-benefits.
Cap & Gown Orders:
[TBD]
Celebrate Your Graduate's Achievement with a Portrait from Life Touch
Order a Senior Open House banner [Link]
Offered by Amiot Scholastic Recognition who partners with AVHS graduation regalia
After the party’s over, give your graduation yard sign a second life! Dakota County is hosting a free drop-off recycling collection to keep graduation and other yard signs out of the landfill. Yard signs do not belong in the home recycling cart. The plastic and metal can be made into new products only when collected and recycled separately.
High school seniors and their families are encouraged to drop off rigid corrugated plastic signs and metal stakes from June 1-August 15 at the Dakota County Western Service Center in Apple Valley in the collection bin inside the lobby. Signs will be taken to Choice Plastics, a local plastic recycler in Minnesota. See the Recycling Guide for more information.
Info for Grads
Attire and Etiquette
Attire and Etiquette
AVHS takes pride on having a quality and sophisticated ceremony. We ask our graduates to celebrate this formal ceremony with the following recommendations:
Cap and Gown Details:
In an effort to provide a formal group ceremony that celebrates our school and district achievements, only approved academic or cultural regalia that has been provided to seniors as a result of an honor by participating in a District 196 program can be worn.
Graduation Caps should be worn so they are parallel with the floor. The tassel should be over the right side. Caps are not to be decorated and must remain unadorned. The only items on the cap should be the tassels that are received from AVHS.
Footwear:
Comfortable shoes for standing and walking should be worn. Dress shoes or dress sandals, flats or wedges are recommended. If wishing to wear heels, we advise that you wear wedge or platform style. The carpet in the arena is not the friendliest to stiletto style heels.
Clothing:
We encourage you to dress in business casual or formal attire. You will be at AVHS, riding on a bus, and then in the arena (which is air conditioned). When not in your cap and gown, you should be dressed for the formality of the occasion.
Etiquette:
§ This is a formal occasion and your behavior should reflect as such
§ No beverages, food, or chewing gum
§ Do not bring items that would distract from the ceremony
Everyone has worked hard to get to this celebration and should have an equal opportunity to be recognized and celebrated.
Senior Party
Save the Date - TBD
Order your Tickets and Yard Signs [TBD] (Donations are also accepted at this link)
Tickets are TBD
Yard Signs are TBD
Note: You will receive an email confirmation for your purchase(s) when completed.
Contact: AppleValleySeniorParty2026@gmail.com
Senior Checklist
☑ Cap + Gown Order
☑ Sign-up for Senior Party
☑ Pay Graduation Fee on EduTrak
☑ Pick up Cap & Gown
☑ Return all Library items & iPad and check for Outstanding Fees & Fines in Follet Destiny
☑ Transfer Google Files to personal accounts before deactivation
☑ Board the busses at AVHS to travel to the Graduation Commencement Ceremony
