Four Academic and Behavior School (ABS) East Class of 2026 graduates were honored and celebrated May 15 for their academic achievements. With family, friends, campus staff and Harris County Department of Education leadership in attendance to celebrate the honorees, the graduates enjoyed their commencement moments.

The ceremony began with campus leadership recognizing student achievement most improved honors and other awards. Graduates – Dawt Chin and Caleb Clark (both of La Porte Independent School District), Jorge Faria (Houston ISD) and Brandon Wolfe (New Caney ISD) – were then presented with certificate of completion.

Principal Mercedes Loves thanked parents for entrusting HCDE and ABS East staff to invest in their children, while Superintendent James Colbert Jr. offered words of encouragement.

“A school year is hard and being an educator is difficult,” he said. “But what you see today are the highlights of what a year can become where we get to celebrate those kids who have stuck with the system and have made it to the end.”