Durango High School graduating seniors, Wes Recla, 18, and Hana Malehch-Marquez, 17, are all smiles with fellow seniors during their graduation ceremony on Friday on the football field. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Durango High School graduating seniors, Wes Recla, 18, and Hana Malehch-Marquez, 17, are all smiles with fellow seniors during their graduation ceremony on Friday on the football field. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

More than 300 Durango High School seniors donned their caps and gowns Friday to receive high school diplomas and celebrate the completion of their high school careers.

By many measures, DHS had a successful year. Durango School District spokeswoman Karla Sluis provided The Durango Herald with stats showing that this year’s graduating class – as well as their fellow students in other grade levels – achieved many academic wins this year.

Durango High School students enter at the start of the DHS graduation ceremony on Friday on the football field. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Durango High School students enter at the start of the DHS graduation ceremony on Friday on the football field. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

By the numbers:

Before final semester grades were calculated, 2026’s graduating class earned an average grade point average of 3.45.

One of the largest groups in more than a decade of graduating seniors will enter the skilled trades or collegiate athletics.

This year’s group of graduates includes two National Merit Finalists, a Boettcher Scholar and a Coca-Cola Scholar.

Nearly 600 students – or 42% of the entire DHS student body – took college-level concurrent enrollment courses this year.

DHS students completed nearly 1,000 advanced placement exams in 2026.

Durango High School student Rye Standifer, 18, rings the Demon Bell before the start of the DHS graduation ceremony on Friday on the football field. Rye was also the master of ceremonies during the event. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Durango High School student Rye Standifer, 18, rings the Demon Bell before the start of the DHS graduation ceremony on Friday on the football field. Rye was also the master of ceremonies during the event. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

DHS students are earning hundreds of industry certifications through their education in fields including healthcare, welding, aviation and engineering.

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Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School students play with a parachute during the third-annual Walk Stars event at Park Elementary School on Wednesday. Across the district's elementary and middle schools, Durango School District graduates returned to their former schools to walk through a cheering crowd of teachers and students. They roamed their former hallways and marveled at their long school journey. (Courtesy of Karla Sluis)
Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School students play with a parachute during the third-annual Walk Stars event at Park Elementary School on Wednesday. Across the district's elementary and middle schools, Durango School District graduates returned to their former schools to walk through a cheering crowd of teachers and students. They roamed their former hallways and marveled at their long school journey. (Courtesy of Karla Sluis)
Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School students participated in the third annual Walk Stars event at Park Elementary School on Wednesday. Across the district's elementary and middle schools, Durango School District graduates returned to their home schools to walk through a cheering crowd of teachers and students, then roamed their former hallways and marveled at their long school journey. (Courtesy of Karla Sluis)
Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School students participated in the third annual Walk Stars event at Park Elementary School on Wednesday. Across the district's elementary and middle schools, Durango School District graduates returned to their home schools to walk through a cheering crowd of teachers and students, then roamed their former hallways and marveled at their long school journey. (Courtesy of Karla Sluis)
Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School students participated in the third annual Walk Stars event at Park Elementary School on Wednesday. Across the district's elementary and middle schools, Durango School District graduates returned to their home schools to walk through a cheering crowd of teachers and students, then roamed their former hallways and marveled at their long school journey. (Courtesy of Karla Sluis)
Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School students participated in the third annual Walk Stars event at Park Elementary School on Wednesday. Across the district's elementary and middle schools, Durango School District graduates returned to their home schools to walk through a cheering crowd of teachers and students, then roamed their former hallways and marveled at their long school journey. (Courtesy of Karla Sluis)