01-08-2025
Diplomas, proud parents: High school graduation in the D.C. jail
Pomp and circumstance blared from two speakers at the front of the gymnasium. The graduates stood, filing one by one down a row of chairs, through a red, white and black balloon arch.
Amid the stacks of diplomas, cheerful families and proud teachers, there were signs this ceremony was different. The graduates were seated by cell block. All but one wore orange jumpsuits under their black caps and gowns. Officers patrolled the room. Maya Angelou Academy's Class of 2025 earned their high school diplomas while incarcerated.
