Deer Park Bicentennial: Throwback Thursday| May 21, 2026
Eighth Grade Pomp and Circumstance
In the early decades of Deer Park Schools, the area was rural. There was no local high school, and families often needed their children’s help on the family farm so it wasn’t uncommon for students to complete their education at the end of the eighth grade. The Commencement Exercises for the graduates were an important event in these students lives.
The first graduations occurred when Amity was still a small schoolhouse. At that time, eighth grade students took the Boxwell Examination. This was a test the state of Ohio required of pupils who attended rural and village schools in order for them to show they were academically prepared. Many rural townships at the time did not have their own high schools so students who passed the exam were granted a diploma that allowed them to enroll in any high school.
|
|
|
|
Many Boxwell graduates were celebrated with local commencement ceremonies. The 1898 Boxwell program shown above was for pupils from Amity, Blue Ash, Montgomery and Concord Schools who passed the exam. On the evening of commencement, graduating pupils read essays, gave speeches and presented musical numbers before receiving their diplomas.
The exam was phased out by 1914, and the graduation evolved into a ceremony for all Deer Park students completing the eighth grade. The graduating classes were initially small with only eight graduates in 1914, but as farmland was increasingly sold to make way for homes, the number of graduates increased to forty-two by 1930.
Eighth Grade Commencement was a significant moment in the students’ lives as it was the end of formal education for some and signaled a time others would leave our school to further their education at Norwood or Sycamore High Schools. As the following photos show, the graduates were very proud of their accomplishments and undoubtedly their parents were as well.
Eighth Grade Graduation, Deer Park Village School
|
|
Eighth Grade Graduation, Deer Park Village School, 1938
|
|
Eighth Grade Graduation programs
|
|
Eighth Grade Graduation, Deer Park Village School, 1938
|
|
“The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.”
|
|
A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents and personal narratives in the district’s archives.
|
|
Learn More
Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.
Sign Up Here
Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!
Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.
Alumni & Community Story Submission
As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.
If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.
Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.