Fact Check: "Three out of four graduation ceremonies canceled due to heat."
What We Know
The claim that "three out of four graduation ceremonies were canceled due to heat" appears to be an exaggeration. Recent reports indicate that extreme heat affected several graduation ceremonies, particularly in New Jersey. For instance, during a graduation ceremony at JFK High School in Paterson, approximately two dozen attendees suffered heat-related illnesses, and three out of four afternoon ceremonies were cut short due to health concerns related to the heat (Keating, 2025; CBS News). However, this does not imply that three out of four ceremonies across the entire country were canceled.
In New York City, officials advised schools to move outdoor graduation activities indoors due to extreme heat warnings, but this directive was specific to certain events and did not result in widespread cancellations (Chalkbeat, 2025; [source-4]).
Analysis
While it is true that extreme heat has impacted some graduation ceremonies, the claim that "three out of four" ceremonies were canceled is misleading. The specific incident in Paterson involved three out of four ceremonies being cut short, but this was a localized event and not representative of a broader trend across all graduation ceremonies nationwide (Keating, 2025; [source-3]).
The sources reporting on the heat-related issues at graduations are credible, including local news outlets and educational reports. However, they focus on specific instances rather than providing a comprehensive overview of all graduation ceremonies affected by heat. The lack of national data on the total number of ceremonies canceled or adjusted due to heat makes it difficult to substantiate the claim as a widespread phenomenon.
Additionally, the context of the claim seems to conflate localized incidents with a national narrative, which can lead to misunderstandings about the extent of the issue.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that "three out of four graduation ceremonies were canceled due to heat" is misleading. While some ceremonies were indeed affected by extreme heat, particularly in specific locations like Paterson, New Jersey, this does not reflect a national trend. The data available indicates localized disruptions rather than widespread cancellations.
Sources
- Trump crackdown on DEI cancels some college ceremonies. AP News
- Qualcomm fixes three Adreno GPU zero-days exploited in attacks. Bleeping Computer
- Mayor: Extreme heat sickens Paterson high school graduation attendees. News 12
- Heat wave prompts NYC schools to shift end-of-year events inside. Chalkbeat
- Extreme heat causes people to faint at New Jersey graduation ceremony. CBS News
- Scattered Spider: Three things the news doesn’t tell you. Bleeping Computer
- Extreme heat causes people to faint at New Jersey graduation ceremony. MSN
- Paterson Graduation Ceremony Cut Short Due to Extreme Heat. Tapinto
