The higher education goals of students at Casco Bay High School (CBHS) will be on public display on Friday, Dec. 13, when CBHS seniors hold the school’s annual “College March” down Congress Street to the downtown post office. The 2024 College March will mark the 12th year that students have held a parade to showcase students’ educational aspirations. The entire senior class of nearly 100 students will participate in the event, mailing college applications or letters to a significant adult in their life who has supported their educational journey.

The community is encouraged to come and cheer the students on!

The seniors will arrive at the Portland Museum of Art at about 1:15 p.m. and proceed down Congress Street to the downtown post office to mail their applications or letters. They’ll then walk across the street to City Hall, arriving about 1:40 p.m., where they will be joined by the rest of the CBHS student body and recognized by school and city officials. Two senior speakers will give an address on behalf of the class. 

CBHS students will be joined in the event by Presumpscot Elementary School third-graders, as a way to demonstrate to the younger students that it’s never too early to start thinking about college.

The CBHS annual "March to the Post Office" celebrates every senior completing at least one college application – and promotes the Portland Public Schools’ goal of graduating every student college-ready.

“The march is a public affirmation that the community values every student's goals and dreams and that every student has had the experience and opportunity of applying to college, no matter what their plans are after graduation,” said Principal Priya Natarajan. “The experience of completing this milestone together with their peers is a deeply meaningful passage to the final half of their senior year and gives them the confidence and skill to pursue any postsecondary program they choose.”

Last year, around 15 percent of CBHS seniors were the first in their families to attend college; many are from immigrant families. The College March is a powerful symbol of the idea that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, has the potential to thrive at a high-quality institution of higher learning.

Throughout CBHS’ 19-year history, about 98 percent of its students have been accepted to college. Last year, 97 percent of graduating seniors earned a college acceptance.

Other high schools throughout the country also hold a College March each year. Its roots date back to 2012 when more than 600 seniors from New York City’s Outward Bound Schools’ network of public schools marched from their respective campuses to their local post office or mail truck to submit their college applications. Students hoped to inspire others to persevere through challenges to succeed in college and beyond.

The march also has become an EL Education tradition. CBHS is a lead school within the EL Education network of more than 150 schools around the United States. Presumpscot Elementary School also is an EL Education school. EL Education is a leading K-12 nonprofit focused on raising student achievement across diverse schools and communities.

CBHS is grateful to the University of Southern Maine, which is sponsoring the event again this year, and also to the United States Postal Service, for its continued support of this inspirational annual tradition.

The rain/snow date for the College March is Jan. 10, 2025.

The Portland Public Schools is Maine’s largest school district, with more than 6,500 students, and it’s also the most diverse. About one-third of the district’s students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken—a total of 59 languages. Approximately 47 percent of the district’s students are white and 53 percent are students of color. More than half of all PPS students are economically disadvantaged.