Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School to Graduate Over 1,100 Students
Capping off its 25th anniversary, the school anticipates the most graduates to attend in-person graduation ceremonies since the pandemic.
May 26, 2026
It’s a time of excitement and celebration for more than 1,100 students at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) as they prepare for the next phase of their lives. Many PA Cyber seniors plan to transition into the workplace, post-secondary classroom, military, family farm or business, or home.
The public cyber charter school will host two in-person commencement ceremonies, which will be held based on geographic location. Students in the western portion of Pennsylvania will attend a ceremony on June 5 at 12 p.m. at Robert Morris University, while those in the eastern portion of the state will attend a ceremony on June 10 at 2 p.m. at PPL Center.
This year marks the largest number of graduates participating in the school’s in-person graduation ceremonies since the coronavirus pandemic. As of mid-May, 394 graduates signed up to attend the western ceremony, and 336 plan to attend the eastern ceremony. Approximately 5,000 visitors will gather between the two ceremonies, and more viewers will livestream from home at www.pacyber.org/graduation.
“I am excited to honor and celebrate the class of 2026!” said Dr. Jerald Barris, PA Cyber’s High School Principal for grades 11-12. “This memorable class closes out the school’s 25th anniversary and marks the cusp of America’s 250th anniversary. They are not just graduates of our school, but graduates in a historic moment in time!”
Mariya Smith will speak at the western ceremony and Aryana Clapper will speak at the eastern ceremony as class representatives. Both will go on to college: Smith plans to study social work at Slippery Rock University, and Clapper plans to study nursing at Saint Joseph's University.
“The beauty of growing up as a student with PA Cyber is that we had the flexibility to pursue whatever it is that we were passionate about,” said Smith. “Whether you spent hours at sports practices, at a volunteer site, worked in a family business, or at a job of your own, we had the opportunity to explore our passion and learn in a way that best suited who we wanted to be.”
Brian Hayden, the school’s CEO, said, “Seeing our graduates walk across the stage is the best day of the year for all of us at PA Cyber. We are so proud of all that they have accomplished, in the classroom and beyond. I know that their time at PA Cyber will help them achieve their future goals.”
Following the 2026 commencement, more than 24,000 students will have graduated from the school since its inception in 2000. PA Cyber alumni have attended some of the top universities and trade schools in the country and have made their mark in a wide range of professions and fields.
Media contact
jennie.harris@pacyber.org
About PA Cyber
Serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School is the most experienced online public school in the nation. PA Cyber’s online learning environments, personalized instructional methods, and curricula choices connect Pennsylvania students and families with state-certified and highly qualified teachers and rich academic content aligned to state standards. Founded in 2000, PA Cyber is headquartered in Midland (Beaver County) and maintains a network of support offices throughout the state. As a public school, PA Cyber is open for enrollment to any school-age child residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and does not charge tuition to students or families.