The 2025–26 school year is rapidly coming to an end, and it has been a whirlwind of band concerts, sporting events, classes, pep assemblies, club meetings, choir performances, theater productions, tests, art shows, and career exploration. When May 15 comes and goes, this school year will represent 36 weeks of building young people and preparing them for adulthood. We will send 301 seniors into the world to make their mark. Fourteen years of schooling have prepared them for what lies ahead—from learning basic procedures in pre-K, to reading in elementary school, to navigating peer relationships in middle school, and finally to driving and gaining work experience in high school. These seniors are equipped with the tools needed to live successful lives and to be positive contributors to our society.
While we are on the topic of seniors, there are a couple of events that may be of interest. Our Baccalaureate service will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 6:00 PM in the PAC. Baccalaureate is optional and will be student-led. The Tahlequah High School graduation ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 2:00 PM. If the weather does not cooperate, the ceremony will be held indoors at the TMAC at the same date and time. Following graduation, seniors who have submitted a permission form will travel to Cynergy in Tulsa for one final event as a graduating class.
As we look ahead to the 2026–27 school year, we will welcome a new freshman class into the halls of THS while also beginning preparations for the graduating class of 2027. Each year ends with feelings of gratitude and accomplishment, and each new year brings a renewed sense of excitement and purpose as our students continue their educational journeys.
Big changes are coming to Tahlequah High School over the summer as work on our bond projects begins. The bleachers, lights, and press box have been removed from the football field between THS and Tahlequah Middle School as construction begins on our new football stadium. This facility will be something all Tigers can be proud of for years to come. It will bring true home football games on Friday nights, band competitions on our own campus, soccer games in a state-of-the-art facility, and a place for multiple sports to practice without dealing with wet, muddy conditions. It will also provide a space for our aviation students to fly drones as they work toward earning their FAA Part 107 certification—and even a venue for future outdoor graduation ceremonies.
At the same time, work will begin inside THS. New tile flooring, the removal of lockers, fresh paint, and remodeled restrooms will greet students in August 2026.
As the dust settles on another busy year, it is clear that Tahlequah High School is a place of constant growth. Whether it is the 301 seniors stepping into their futures or the transformation of our campus through construction and renovation, the spirit of the Tiger remains steadfast. We invite the community to join us in celebrating our graduates this May and to look forward with anticipation to the upgraded facilities awaiting us this fall.
Mark Jordan
Principal, Tahlequah High School