Laurel High School graduates over 400 seniors, many multilingual

More than 400 Laurel High School seniors crossed the stage on June 4, and several did so with more than one language in hand, a detail that says as much about Prince George’s County’s future as the diplomas themselves. The Class of 2026 is headed into college, careers, military service and other paths, carrying skills that local employers, universities and public institutions increasingly rely on.

At Laurel High, those skills are part of the school’s identity. Prince George’s County Public Schools says the campus is an IB World School, a college-preparatory designation that fits a graduating class moving into higher education and the workforce. The district also said five student-athletes from the Class of 2026 were scheduled to compete in the state track and field finals at Morgan State University in Baltimore, a reminder that the school’s talent pool extends well beyond the classroom.

The bilingual detail matters too. NBC4 said several Laurel seniors were proficient in at least two languages, and Prince George’s County Public Schools says the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who demonstrate high-level proficiency in English and another language. Maryland adopted the seal in 2016. For students in Laurel, that credential reflects years of study and practice, and it can help them as they move into college, public service and jobs in a county where multilingual communication is a practical advantage.

Laurel High seniors also had to clear specific graduation benchmarks, including at least 21 credits and community service hours. Those requirements help explain why commencement carried weight for families who have watched years of work, testing and late nights come down to one ceremony. Principal Michael Dinkins is the school leader named on Laurel High’s principal page, and the district’s graduation calendar shows that Prince George’s County’s 2026 graduation season ran through May and June, with some ceremonies offering Spanish interpretation for families.

The scale of the ceremony also points to a larger county story. A graduating class of more than 400 students means hundreds of young residents are shifting at once into college classrooms, apprenticeship programs, military service and full-time work. In a county as large and diverse as Prince George’s, that transition shapes everything from the local labor force to neighborhood stability. Laurel High’s Class of 2026 left with diplomas, but also with bilingual skills, athletic résumés and academic credentials that will carry into the region’s next chapter.