Get ready to groove with the ultimate list of 50 end of school year songs! Amp up your slideshows with a playlist that includes graduation anthems and catchy tunes perfect for kids.
One of the best ways to celebrate graduation and the end of the school year is to put together a fun slideshow or playlist.
To help you out, we’ve collected 50 of the best end-of-school-year songs that are perfect for teachers, parents, and friends.
This list of songs includes kid-friendly upbeat melodies, sentimental songs to commemorate the ending of a high school career, and songs to help parents reflect on the passage of time.
There’s truly something for everyone!
The Top 10 Best Graduation Songs of All Time
Before we get to our favorite end-of-school-year songs, here are some of the best songs to use for high school or college graduation.
These classics truly capture the emotions of bittersweet endings and the promise and excitement of new beginnings.
In our search for the top 10 best graduation songs, these titles popped up over and over again.
They’re sure to be the perfect addition to any slideshow or playlist!
1. “Graduation (Friends Forever)”- Vitamin C
You can’t get more “on-the-nose” than “Graduation” by Vitamin C. It’s a great song to inspire reflection and reminiscing.
2. “Closing Time” – Semisonic
“Closing Time” by Semisonic is the perfect upbeat song to play between some of the more slow and emotional songs on the list but it still hits you right “in the feels”.
3. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – Green Day
This song is a great send-off for high schoolers.
Some students may have had the time of their lives, while others can’t wait to bid good riddance to their time in grade school.
Either way, this song is sure to resonate with everyone!
4. “I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack
This song encourages students to take chances and dream big as they step into the next phase of their lives.
And the lyrics echo the hopes of both teachers and parents for their children.
5. “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield
“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield is the perfect song to usher in a new chapter of life.
Students have an unwritten future ahead of them as they leave what’s been written in the past.
6. “The Climb” – Miley Cyrus
This song encourages students to remember to enjoy the journey wherever life takes them next.
7. “Everybody’s Free” (To Wear Sunscreen) – Baz Luhrmann
We love this quirky and memorable song for graduation. It’s certainly not a traditional song, but it’s perfect for the occasion.
8. “I Will Remember You” – Sarah McLachlan
“I Will Remember You” by Sarah McLachlan is the perfect goodbye song for both teachers and students. It’s a reminder to appreciate the past while embracing the future.
9. “You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins
We might not always think we’ll miss certain aspects or phases of life.
But, this song reminds us to cherish those special little moments because someday you’ll wish you could go back one last time.
10. “Here’s to the Night” – Eve 6
This song captures the teenage angst of friendships and transitions and encourages students to remember and celebrate the fun times they’ve had together.
The Best End-of-School-Year Songs to Add to Your List
Now let’s get to the best end of school year songs to add to your playlist!
Below you’ll find songs for reflection, songs of celebration, songs for kids, and more.
You can find each of these songs on YouTube and other music streaming platforms like Spotify.
General Songs
- “I Lived” – OneRepublic
- “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield
- “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifah feat. Charlie Puth
- “My Wish” – Rascal Flats
- “Breakaway” – Kelly Clarkson
- “Long Live” – Taylor Swift
- “Wide Open Spaces” – The Chicks
- “100 Years” – Five for Fighting
- “A Moment Like This” – Kelly Clarkson
- “Good Old Days” – Macklemore
- “Firework” – Katy Perry
- “Schools Out for Summer” – Alice Cooper
- “Today My Life Begins” – Bruno Mars
- “Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
- “We’re All In This Together” – High School Musical Cast
- “Sing” – My Chemical Romance
- “Have it All”– Jason Mraz
- “The Final Countdown” – Europe
- “Forever Young” – Alphaville
- “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” – Simple Minds
- “Rivers and Roads” – The Head and the Heart
Best Songs for Kids and Parents
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Randy Newman
- “Never Grow Up” – Taylor Swift
- “Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
- “On My Way” – Phil Collins
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “5 More Minutes” – Jonas Brothers
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake
- “Top of the World” – Imagine Dragons
- “Count on Me” – Bruno Mars
- “Small as Me” – Damien Jurado and Rosie Thomas
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- “We are Going to be Friends” – Jack Johnson
- “Dream Big” – Ryan Shupe and The Rubberband
- “What I Am”– Will.I.Am
- “Let Them Be Little” – Lonestar
- “If I Didn’t Have You” – Billy Crystal and John Goodman
- “Life is a Highway” – Rascal Flatts
- “You’ll be in my Heart” – Phil Collins
- “Celebration” – Kool and the Gang
- “Brave” – Sara Bareilles
Tips for Creating the Perfect Year-End Slideshow
We hope the list above gave you some great ideas for slideshow songs, whether you’re putting together an end of year slideshow for students or a graduation slideshow for your child.
Here are some simple tips to help you create an entertaining and special presentation:
Tips for teachers:
- In between pictures of the students, make sure to include fun pictures of the faculty and staff, too.
- Use a mix of slower songs and upbeat songs to help tell the story of the year.
- Include funny moments and sentimental moments and try to use a song that reflects what’s happening in the pictures as they transition (i.e. On the first day of school, you can choose a song about being brave, and if you have slides with kids playing together, you can play songs about friendship).
- Don’t forget to include some school spirit! You can use your school’s song for a few of your slides and make sure you incorporate your school colors throughout!
Tips for Parents:
Parents can use some of the same tips from above like choosing a mix of slower songs and more upbeat songs and using songs to reflect what’s happening on the slides.
And, it’s always fun to include funny moments along with more sentimental and special images.
You can also:
- Start with baby pictures and show the progression of your child aging from kindergarten through high school and beyond.
- Make sure to highlight your student’s achievements, awards, hobbies, and extracurricular activities.
- And be sure to share images of you with your child, too!
More Ways to Celebrate
After you’ve compiled the perfect list of end-of-school-year songs, here are some other fun activities for those last school days!
- Download free printable last-day-of-school signs to use for pictures.
- Have your child fill out one of our last-day-of-school questionnaire printables.
- Enjoy last day of school coloring pages.
- Start a school memory box for your child.
More Fun Ideas:
- Sign a t-shirt
- List things they’ve learned from A-Z
- Make ice cream in a bag
- Take a “graduation walk” around the school (walk from the kindergarten rooms to the 5th-grade rooms)
- Play End-of-Year Classmates Bingo
- Set up a photo booth
- Create end-of-year superlatives
- Make a last day of school crown
- Make a time capsule
- Have a dance party
- Share your favorite memories
- Write and recite a commencement speech
- Write thank you notes
- Make a count-down calendar
- Design a school seal
- Take a field trip to the next grade
- Write letters to the upcoming class
- Host a talent show
- Publish a year-end newspaper
- Create a hall of fame
- Make a graffiti wall
- Create a school year timeline
- Have a field day
What’s Next?
Summer break!
Now that we’ve shared the best end of school year songs and activities, here are some fun ideas for summer vacation!
This summer bucket list is a great way to plan your family adventures for the season.
Things to make:
- Make s’mores
- Try a new recipe
- Tie-dye shirts
- Make homemade ice cream
- Make an indoor fort
- Make popsicles
Water activities:
- Do a slip and slide
- Run through the sprinklers
- Go to the lake
- Go to the water park
- Visit a splash pad
Trips:
- Visit a museum
- Go bowling
- Go fishing
- Visit a farmer’s market
- Go to the zoo
- Go to a bounce house
- Visit the library
- Go to the carnival
- Go to an amusement park
Family fun:
- Go on a bike ride
- Eat snow cones
- Have a BBQ with friends
- Watch a parade
- Play yard games
- Blow bubbles
- Listen to an outdoor concert
Find 30 additional fun ideas at the link above!
FAQs
If you’re using Microsoft Powerpoint, download the music file and save it to your computer.
1. On the Insert tab, select Audio, and then Audio on My PC.
2. In the file explorer, browse to the music file you want to use, and then select Insert.
3. With the audio icon selected on the slide, on the Playback tab, select Play in Background.
You can use apps like Audacity® to help you play multiple songs across multiple slides.
You can find more tips and instructions from Microsoft, here.
Want More?
If this post was helpful, be sure to check out these other great ideas for moms:
- The Best Summer Schedule For Kids
- Summer Family Photoshoot Ideas
- How to Introduce Your Toddler To Swimming This Summer
- Pool Safety Tips For Your Next Family Vacation
- The Ultimate List of Mom Hacks
- How to Include Your Toddler In Outdoor Activities This Summer
- 5 Fun At Home Activities To Do With Kids This Summer
Your Turn
What did you think of these graduation and end of the year songs? Are there any you think we should add to our list? Let us know in the comments!
