It’s the time of year for seniors at Casco Bay High School (CBHS) to put their higher education goals on public display — when the students hold the school’s annual “College March” down Congress Street to the downtown post office.  The 2025 College March will mark the 13th year that students have paraded down the city’s signature thoroughfare to mail college applications or letters to a sigificant adult in their life who has supported their educational journey.  The tradition happens on Friday, December 12, 2025.

The entire senior class of nearly 100 students will participate in the event.  The CBHS students also will be joined in the event by Presumpscot Elementary School third-graders as a way to demonstrate to the younger students that it’s never too early to start thinking about college.

The students will arrive at the Portland Museum of Art at about 1:15 pm and proceed down Congress Street to the downtown post office to make their applications or letters.  They’ll then walk across the street to city hall, arriving about 1:40 pm., where they will be joined by the rest of the CBHS student body and recognized by school and city officials.  Two senior speakers will give an address on behalf of the class.

The CBHS annual “March to the Post Office” celebrates every senior completing at least one college application — and prootes the Portlad Public Schools’ goal of graduating every student college-ready.

Last year, around 40 percent of CBHS seniors were the first in their families to attend college; many are from immigrant families.  The College March is a powerful symbol of the idea that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, has the potential to thrive at a high-quality institution of  higher learning.  Throughoutd CBHS’ 20-year history, about 98 percent of its students have been accepted to college.  Last year, 99 percent of graduating senior earned a college acceptance.

The community is encouraged to come and cheer the students on!