Almost 1,700 seniors crossed the stage, diplomas in hand, on Saturday, May 27, as Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD celebrated its Class of 2023 in four graduation ceremonies on the University of North Texas campus. Students and families from R.L. Turner, Newman Smith, Creekview and Ranchview high schools filled the UNT Coliseum with applause from sunup through sundown.

 “To see our kids celebrated in this crowning accomplishment is the highlight of any year,” said CFBISD Superintendent Dr. Wendy Eldredge. “The smiles on their faces as they cross the stage always reminds me of what a privilege it is to work in education. So much effort—for so many years—goes into high school graduation and I applaud our students, their families and everyone in our CFB family that has played a part.”

While the principals from all four high schools presided over the ceremonies, a special touch was also at play as principals from the middle and elementary school feeder campuses were among the on-stage guests. 

Graduates from the district’s Early College High School, which is based at Brookhaven College, participated in their ceremony earlier in the week. Combined scholarship awards from all five CFB high schools totaled almost $22 million.

The district’s AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program was a major contributor to this year’s financial haul with 183 seniors amassing $7.5 million of scholarship offers through the program. AVID students also completed almost 3,000 community service hours, received 424  college acceptances, and produced one valedictorian and two salutatorians.