Graduation season arrives in Jefferson County this week, with three schools marking the milestone for their Class of 2026 graduates.
Graduation Schedule
- Bridges High School — Friday, June 5, at 5:30 p.m., Madras football stadium
- Culver High School — Friday, June 5, Culver High School gymnasium
- Madras High School — Saturday, June 7, Madras football stadium (time TBD by school)
Madras High School: A School Trending Upward
Madras High School has made notable progress on graduation rates in recent years, reaching a 95% graduation rate — well above the Oregon state average of 81%. That represents a remarkable turnaround from 2008, when just 71% of seniors received diplomas.
The improvement reflects years of work by school staff, community partners, and families to support students through to completion — a meaningful achievement for a school that serves a diverse student body including many students from the Warm Springs Reservation and families in the agricultural workforce.
Bridges High School
Bridges High School, Jefferson County's alternative education option, plays a vital role for students who need a different path to graduation. The school's ceremony at the football stadium reflects the county's commitment to honoring every student's path to a diploma, regardless of how they got there.
Culver: Smaller Town, Big Moment
Culver High School, serving students in the southern part of Jefferson County, holds its ceremony in the school gymnasium — an intimate setting that reflects the tight-knit community around Culver, Metolius, and Crooked River Ranch. Graduation is a community-wide event in Culver, with families and neighbors turning out to celebrate together.
Congratulations to all of Jefferson County's graduating seniors. The Madras Bulletin wishes the Class of 2026 every success in what comes next — whether college, career, military service, or building something new right here in Jefferson County.