Graduation caps will start flying this weekend in graduation ceremonies for area high schools and will continue through the beginning of June.

Even though South Dakota ranks ninth in the nation for number of graduates, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education, the number of graduates in South Dakota dropped. In South Dakota, 88 percent of all students graduated in 2007, according to the state's report card. Almost 92 percent of white students graduated, and 61 percent of Native Americans students graduated last year, the lowest of all minority groups in South Dakota.

High Schools in the Rapid City area

Rapid City Christian High School - 2 p.m. May 25, First Assembly Church, South U.S. Highway 16

Douglas High School - 2 p.m. May 18, Patriot Stadium (weather permitting)

St. Thomas More High School - 3 p.m. May 25, Blessed Sacrament Church

Rapid City Stevens High School - 5 p.m. June 1, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

Rapid City Central High School - 1:30 p.m. June 1, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

Rapid City Career Learning Center Academy - 7 p.m. May 30, Dakota Middle School

Hills area schools

Belle Fourche High School - 1 p.m. May 17, Belle Fourche High School Gym

Lead/Deadwood High School - 2 p.m. May 27, Gym No. 1

Newell High School - 2 p.m. May 25, Austin Auditorium

Sturgis Brown High School - 2 p.m. May 18, West Gym

Spearfish High School - 2 p.m. May 18, Donald E. Young Center, BHSU

New Underwood - 3 p.m. May 17

Southern Hills schools

Custer High School - 2 p.m. May 17, Custer Armory

Edgemont High School - 2 p.m. May 18

Hill City High School - 10:30 a.m., May 18, Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Hot Springs High School - 9:30 a.m. May 17, Case Auditorium

West River schools

Bennett County High School/Martin - 1 p.m. May 17, Legion Auditorium

Bison High School - 2 p.m. May 24

Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School - 2 p.m. May 25, Auditorium

Faith High School - 3 p.m. May 18, Community Center

Jones County High School - 1:30 p.m. May 18

Kadoka High School - 1 p.m. May 18, Kadoka Auditorium

Little Wound High School/Kyle -11 a.m. May 21

McIntosh High School - 2 p.m. May 17

McLauglin High School - 2 p.m. May 18

Oelrichs High School - 1:30 p.m. May 17

Philip High School - 3 p.m. May 18

Pine Ridge High School -10 a.m. May 30

Red Cloud High School - 10 a.m. May 30

Takini High School - 1 p.m. May 22

Wall High School - 1:30 p.m. May 19

Nebraska schools

Chadron High School - 2 p.m. May 18, Chadron State College Ross Armstrong Gym

Wyoming schools

Bear Lodge High School/Sundance - 12 p.m., May 16

Campbell County High School/Gillette - 1 p.m. May 18 Camplex

Crook County School District No. 1 - Graduation ceremonies for the district's three high schools are May 18 at each high school at the following times: Moorcroft High School - 1 p.m., Sundance High School - 4 p.m., Hulett High School - 7 p.m.

Newcastle High School - 2 p.m. May 18

Upton High School - 2 p.m. May 18

Contact Sarah Beu at 394-8424 or sarah.beu@rapidcityjournal.com