The conclusion of the 2021-22 school year is nearing with senior graduations taking place this weekend.

Lee County School Board Chair Debbie Jordan said the students are excited. There have been several signing events for seniors with the schools they will attend come fall. Students entering the workforce also have taken part in signings with the companies they will join.

“One young man is going into the trade as a welder. We had signings for them to celebrate their hard work and what they have accomplished,” Jordan said. “It’s a beautiful thing. It’s great for families to be a part of that.”

Wherever the journey takes the graduating class of ’22, they are prepared for greatness, she said.

“We have a lot of students that are receiving multiple scholarships. It is just amazing,” Jordan said, especially with the different type of school experience they have had.

This year graduations will take place Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22, at Alico Arena at Florida Gulf Coast University, 12181 FGCU Lake Parkway E; Suncoast Arena at Florida Southwestern State College, 13351 FSW Parkway and Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway.

“The main thing families should know about the ceremonies is that our students and their guests must follow the policies and procedures of the venue at which they are graduating,” district spokesperson Rob Spicker said. “We encourage them to make sure they know the rules of the venue they will attend graduation, so they are not surprised by any potential restrictions.”

The schedule for West and East Zone graduations is:

Alico Arena

– Cape Coral High School, 10 a.m., Saturday, May 21

– Ida S. Baker High School, 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 21

– North Fort Myers High School, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 22

Suncoast Arena

– Mariner High School, 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 21

– Island Coast High School, 2:30 p.m., Sunday May 22

Hertz Arena

– Riverdale High School, 7 p.m., Saturday, May 21

– East Lee County High School, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 22

– Lehigh Senior High School, 7 p.m., Sunday, May 22

Spicker said each student was allowed six tickets for the graduation, which the schools are managing and distributing.

“All of our ceremonies will once again be streamed live for those who cannot attend,” he said, at https://www.leeschools.net/calendars/high_school_graduation.

The graduate numbers are in flux and will be changing as the district continues to work with every student, Spiker said.

The district will not have an official total of graduates until after the summer credit recovery efforts are over.

“We continue to work closely and diligently with all our seniors to help them earn their high school diploma,” Spicker said.

There are 405 at North Fort Myers High School; 377 seniors enrolled at Ida S. Baker High School; 336 at Mariner High School; 283 at Island Coast High School; 410 at Cape Coral High School; 487 at Riverdale High School; 408 at East Lee County High School and 517 at Lehigh Senior High School.

Last year’s graduation tally:

– North Fort Myers High School: 465 out of 474 cohorts, 98.1 percent graduation rate

– Island Coast High School: 289 out of 315 total, 91.7 percent graduation rate

– Cape Coral High School: 352 out of a total of 365, 96.4 percent graduation rate

– Mariner High School: 337 out of a total of 368, 94.1 percent graduation rate

– Ida S. Baker High School: 387 out of a total of 403: 96 percent graduation rate

– Lehigh Senior High School: 512 out of 548 total, 93.4 percent graduation rate

– Riverdale High School: 577 out of a total of 599, 96.3 percent graduation rate

– East Lee County High School: 340 out of a total of 375, 90.7 percent graduation rate