San Miguel Eighth Graders Celebrate High School Signing Day

On April 29, twenty‑six young men gathered in their school cafeteria, now transformed into a launchpad for the next phase of their journey. Exuberant chatter calmed into quiet as students anticipated the moment they would announce a choice that would shape the next four years of their lives, and beyond. It was the fifth annual High School Signing Day at San Miguel School.

Launching the Next Chapter
High School Signing Day is not just a celebration, but proof that the mission of San Miguel is alive: to transform lives through education. Spotlighting San Miguel's graduating class, students announce their high school destinations for the fall, naming some of the best college-preparatory high schools in the region.

This year, as is tradition, graduates donned a hat and shirt from their high school to great applause from the students and faculty gathered to celebrate. The ceremony was live-streamed on social media as well, where comments quickly poured in: “Let's go, Son! You worked so hard for this,” wrote one proud mother.

“The Class of 2025 has shown determination, grit, and a growth mindset throughout their three years at San Miguel,” commented Dr. David Palank, San Miguel’s president. “They have achieved academic success, but, more importantly, have grown into young men of character. There is no doubt that they will accomplish great things as they continue to grow into well-rounded Miguel Men.”

Holistic Preparation for High School Success
For eighth-grade students at San Miguel, high school choices are the culmination of three years of dedication. Since sixth grade, every math quiz, science lab, and grammar lesson has prepared students to gain admission to private, college-preparatory high schools. At San Miguel, students’ learning accelerates, more than making up for any existing learning gaps. On average, students improve by about 19 percentile points in math and over 21 percentile points in reading on standardized tests over their three years. A student who enters at the 50th percentile is likely to reach the 70th percentile by graduation.

In addition to academic preparation, San Miguel’s Graduate Support Team, consisting of Director Alfonso Motta and Associate Director Francisco Muñoz, accompanies students through the rigorous high school application process. Mr. Muñoz has particular insight into the experience; he went through it himself as a San Miguel student of the class of 2016.

Support That Lasts a Lifetime
Recently, the Graduate Support Team led a small group of San Miguel alumni in high school to visit Princeton, Columbia, and Yale. College tours like this one are just one of the ways that San Miguel supports its students in high school, showing them the boundless opportunities available to them. Closer to home, students can enjoy regular, in-person check-ins on their high school campuses, SAT prep classes, and reunions with fellow San Miguel alumni.

San Miguel Ivy League Tour 2025

This combination of a sturdy, holistic middle school foundation and continuing support leads to a 100% high school graduation rate among San Miguel alumni, more than double the 49% graduation rate of students from similar backgrounds in Washington, DC. And after they graduate from high school, San Miguel continues to be a pillar of support through college and careers. 

High School Signing Day is the first of many milestones along this transformative journey. It signals the truth at the heart of the school’s mission: every child is capable of great success with the right support. The applause echoing through the cafeteria on April 29 was only the first of many celebrations the San Miguel community will share with their Miguel Men.

San Miguel alumni continue their education at Archbishop Carroll High School, Barrie School, DeMatha Catholic High School, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Edmund Burke School, Episcopal High School, Georgetown Day School, Georgetown Preparatory School, Gonzaga College High School, Kirov Academy, Maret School, Phillips Academy Andover, Sandy Spring Friends School, Sidwell Friends School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, St. Anselm's Abbey School, St. Jerome Institute, St. John’s College High School, St. Vincent Pallotti High School, and Washington International School.