Nearly 2,000 students who graduated from Worcester Public Schools this year are preparing for the next chapter of their lives, with destinations that span prestigious universities, community colleges, military service, skilled trades and the workforce.
District officials recently released a snapshot of where members of the Class of 2026 are headed after graduation, highlighting the broad range of opportunities pursued by graduates from Worcester’s high schools.
Rather than following a single path, the class reflects the increasingly diverse ways students define success after high school.
Some grads are headed to nationally recognized universities, including Harvard University, Columbia University, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Wellesley College, Williams College, Baylor University, the University of Michigan and Syracuse University.
Others remain closer to home, enrolling at Clark University, the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester State University, Assumption University and Quinsigamond Community College. The University of Massachusetts system also continues to be a popular destination, with graduates enrolling at the Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell campuses.
Many students are choosing career-focused education through technical schools and apprenticeship programs, including Porter and Chester Institute, Rob Roy Academy, Peterson School, Lincoln Technical Institute, Universal Technical Institute and several union apprenticeship programs in the building trades, plumbing, electrical work and sheet metal.
The graduating class also includes students entering military service through the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army National Guard.
Graduates of Worcester Technical High School are heading directly into careers with employers that include General Electric, General Dynamics, Patrick Motors Volkswagen, Riverlin Animal Hospital and Wilson Language Training, while others will begin careers through union apprenticeship programs.
According to the district’s announcement, Worcester Public Schools is celebrating not only where students are going, but the work that brought them to this point.
“Congratulations to the nearly 2,000 students who have graduated across Worcester Public Schools in the Class of 2026,” the district said in its announcement. “From colleges and universities to trade schools, military service, and entering the workforce, our newest WPS alumni are officially on to their next chapter.”
The district added that it is “incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by every single graduate across our district.”
Taken together, the post-graduation plans show the expanding opportunities available to students across Worcester’s seven comprehensive high schools and specialty programs. Whether pursuing four-year degrees, learning a skilled trade, serving in the military or entering the workforce immediately, members of the Class of 2026 carry Worcester with them to campuses, job sites and military installations across Massachusetts and throughout the country.
