On June 6, 2020, the Kanawha County Board of Education, the City of Charleston, the Kanawha County Commission and the county health department issued statements about graduation for the Class of 2020.
The school superintendent said the board planned virtual ceremonies, because its in-person plan did not meet health guidelines. Six of eight high schools had already held drive-by events. The health department said it had raised concerns about crowd size when asked, but that it had not ordered any action and that graduation plans were the school board’s decision. The mayor and one county commissioner asked for a safe in-person option.
After the state allowed in-person ceremonies from June 22, 2020, Kanawha County Schools held eight outdoor high school graduations that week.