We celebrated the end of a journey at Cityscape for our East Grand Preparatory 8th grade students last Thursday night as they graduated from middle school. The ceremony, which was the beginning of a new path for these students, brought tears to our students, staff and those who were present.

With much excitement we celebrated the graduation of Cityscape’s sixth 8th grade class. The first class of Cityscape 8th graders graduated in  2016. This year, we are proud to send off to high school our 64 students who graduated from East Grand Middle School. 

The vast majority of students who graduated this year were part of the East Grand family since their elementary years, with some of them having graduated from kindergarten  at EGP. Four of our grads attended elementary school at Buckner Preparatory.

Dr. Israel Garcia, Assistant Principal at East Grand Preparatory, says the eighth grade graduating class has a lot more challenges to face in high school. 

“This is far from over, the journey for high school graduation is still ahead of them,” said Dr. Garcia. However, as challenging as it may be at times, our 8th grade students are equipped now with the right tools and the character to persevere and triumph. “The East Grand Prep grads who will be part of the high school graduating classes of 2027 will do amazing things, just wait and see!”

With the strong academic foundation built at Cityscape Schools, the journey for our grads will continue to flourish at neighborhood high schools such as: Yvonne A. Ewell Townview School of Health Profession, Skyline’s both, Magnet and Early College, New Tech Early College, Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, North Dallas PTECH.

Three of our campus student leaders shared some words with the graduating class. Denzel Watson, Student Council President, started the graduation program. Ashlynn Rickman followed with a class poem. La’Mauria Taylor shared some words of expression.

EGP’s eighth grade team: Mr. Commodore Bussey, Mr. Carlos Cupido, Mr. Richard King and Mr. Angel Rodriguez-Colon, also shared inspiring words with the class as they were  honored with A/B Honor roll and academic excellence awards.

Our students cheered each other on as they were emotionally realizing most of them won’t continue being classmates, but will continue cheering each other from afar while in high school, because their Cityscape bond will remain strong. 

The ceremony continued with Principal Celia Sanchez and AP Dr. Israel Garcia presented the graduates with diplomas and shook hands with district leaders.

Lastly, Founder and Superintendent Leonard Brannon and Co-founder and Chief of Human Resources Glenda Brannon, spoke about the upbringing of Cityscape Schools and showed much gratitude to the parents and students who make Cityscape Schools possible. 

“Without you, none of this would be possible,” said Mr. Brannon. 

We wish nothing but the best to our 2023 eighth grade class! & in the words of our Chief Officer of Culture and Climate, Dr. Billy Ferrell, 

“This is your home, please come back and visit.”