On Saturday, hundreds of graduates, families, and community leaders will gather to celebrate the academic success of students who have earned their Illinois High School Diploma through the City Colleges of Chicago Adult Education program.
In total, approximately 640 students earned their high school diploma in the 2025-2026 school year. To mark this major educational milestone, more than 300 students are expected to attend the completion celebration alongside their peers, families, friends, and leadership from both City Colleges of Chicago and the City of Chicago.
“On this momentous occasion, I celebrate the determination and resilience of our students as they reach this important milestone,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “They have balanced work, family, and countless other responsibilities while pursuing their educational goals, proving that it is never too late to invest in your future. Earning a high school diploma opens doors to higher learning and greater economic opportunities. On behalf of the City of Chicago, I congratulate each graduate and look forward to the many ways they will contribute to and strengthen our great city.”
“Watching my child fighting against a deadly illness every day for months was the impetus for me to go back and earn my high school diploma. I wanted to be the mom she deserved,” said Tracey Hartman, Illinois High School Diploma earner, Class of 2026. “I tell others to go back because it’s not too late and it will make you feel truly accomplished. Earning my diploma helped me feel more confident and I know it will open many more doors for me.”
Hartman has already enrolled in credit classes this summer at Kennedy-King College with plans to earn a degree in cybersecurity so that she can be a cybersecurity analyst working in the healthcare sector, protecting important data for patients, especially the most vulnerable. She has also started a housing nonprofit to help families battling against childhood diseases.
The Adult Education program provides no cost Illinois High School Diploma and HiSET preparatory classes at City Colleges of Chicago and other community locations across Chicago as well as online. These courses remove economic barriers and create accessible academic pathways for adult learners seeking to advance their careers or transition into higher education.
“Earning a high school diploma reflects the power of education to transform lives, expand possibilities, and inspire the next generation,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “At City Colleges, we are all honored to celebrate our students’ achievements and look forward to all they will accomplish in the years ahead.”
“The entire City Colleges of Chicago community is incredibly proud of our Illinois High School Diploma earners as they reach this pivotal milestone,” said Vice Chancellor of Adult Education Luis Narvaez, City Colleges of Chicago. “By earning their diplomas, students are unlocking new career opportunities, building long-term economic mobility, and setting powerful examples for their families and our communities.”
The upcoming Adult Education Completion ceremony will feature special guest speakers and leaders who will join the celebration to honor the Class of 2026.
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About City Colleges of Chicago
As the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity, City Colleges of Chicago catalyzes our students’ capacity to prosper and take part in building a stronger and more just Chicago.
