8th-grade graduation gifts are no joke. Middle school graduates have accomplished a great achievement and are ready for high school.
You may not feel as if they’re ready for serious graduation gifts yet and may find yourself looking for last-minute gifts that will make them feel special on this important day.
We’ve got you covered for all kinds of creative 8th-grade graduation gift ideas, from the academic and sporty to the traditional and whimsical. They’ll love these appropriate, fun middle school graduation gifts no matter what kind of tween they are.
25 Best 8th Grade Graduation Gift Ideas
Keep reading for the best and brightest 8th-grade graduation gifts to celebrate your favorite graduate right.
Graduation Compass Bracelet
The best middle school graduation gifts are ones that stay with the student long after the ceremony is done, like this compass bracelet. The unisex bracelet works for him or for her as a celebration of a job well done in middle school. The small compass on a leather wrap bracelet will inspire them to find their way into high school and beyond.
Funny 8th Grade T-Shirt
This fun t-shirt makes an entertaining gift for a boy or girl who is graduating from middle school. The festive t-shirt celebrates their future and how much they’ve had to deal with during middle school, from chemistry and math to backpacks and learning about the world. The shirt is a keeper for any newly graduating kid who wants to say “peace out” to the 8th grade in style.
Academic Planner
This helpful academic planner is a great way for 8th-grade graduation gifts to look forward to high school. They will value all this academic planner has to offer, from being a central place where they can see, track, and accomplish all assignments and plan everything from projects to study time here on in.
Graduation Bookmark
This graduation bookmark makes an appropriate and cute gift for the 8th grade graduate in your life. The silver bookmark that reads “On to the next chapter” and tassel are ideal for girls you know who are headed out of middle school and onto bigger things.
Personalized Graduation Necklace
Ensure your favorite middle school graduate savors their big day with this memorable personalized graduation necklace. The customizable charm includes the name and graduation year of the teen on a coin design. Their 8th-grade graduation shouldn’t go by without a heartfelt keepsake like this to keep them remembering it all.
Personalized Glass Jewelry Box
Give the girl you know who’s graduating middle school this personalized keepsake jewelry box, so she can have an extra-special place to keep her small accessories while fondly recalling her big day. Even after she’s knee-deep in high school, this precious jewelry box will be cherished in her life.
Inspiration Silicone Wristband Set
This set of inspiration silicone wristbands will delight the 8th-grade graduate you know. The set has 12 rubber bracelets, each with a unique motivational phrase on it.
From “be yourself” to “change the world,” they’ll be ready for anything once high school begins and beyond. Plus, they’ll love wearing these to their middle school graduation ceremony and sharing them with friends.
Color Changing Cinema Lightbox
Improve the bedroom of a middle school graduate you know with this cool cinema lightbox. The retro look of the lightbox is coupled with the LED lights that can be programmed to change color in multiple ways. They can use the included letters to write their favorite quote, their name, or you can beat them to it by saying congrats.
The Awesome Journal
This journal is indeed an awesome way to send off an 8th-grade graduate into the realm of teenagehood and high school. The guide is an endearing, fun way for kids to work on issues and face challenges with confidence, humor, and empathy for themselves and each other. The journal will win hearts just like the best 8th-grade graduation gift ideas always manage to do.
Graduation Teddy Bear
Give this adorable (and smart) graduation teddy bear to your favorite middle school graduate and let them stay a big kid for a little longer.
This sweet graduation keepsake will find a place in their room and gently remind them of their middle school milestone. This teddy bear is dressed for his graduation ceremony, with a cap, sash, and diploma.
Graduation Guest Book Card
This thoughtful card makes the neatest graduation guest book for the not-an-8th-grader-anymore in your life. The oversized card has plenty of room for their family, friends, and special pals to all sign and wish them well in high school. An easy activity like signing this card will become a treasured keepsake for the graduate long after the ceremony.
High School Survival Guide
This helpful survival guide for high school is the ideal gift for a middle school graduate who is already worried about what’s to come.
They can dig into the best seller’s engaging advice, stories, and exercises that will help them navigate all things school and social, from SATS to taking time for mindfulness and meditation. They’ll feel super-ready for their upcoming life in high school.
Engraved Graduation Photo Keepsake
The 8th grade graduate in your life won’t forget their middle school graduation anytime soon when you give them this memorable photo keepsake that will preserve the memory forever.
The glass photo frame contains a customized engraved photo of your choice, plus their graduation year and any inspiring words you wish them to have. The photo keepsake will contain this happy memory for a long time to come.
Kodak Digital Instant Print Camera
This Kodak digital instant print camera will wow your favorite middle school graduate and provide hours of entertainment on graduation day and beyond. The compact, easy-to-use camera allows them to point and shoot, while the printing capability works instantly with each shot.
They can have tons of fun taking pictures old-school style with updated tech and capture the happiest memories from their graduation day.
Young Chef Cookbook
Once the graduate you know is out of middle school, you can prepare them for the next phase of life with some new cooking skills. This cookbook for young chefs is the perfect way for them to get into the craft of cooking and have a ball at the same time.
The book has over 100 tasty recipes that kids their age will eat up literally, from blueberry pancakes to turkey meatballs.
Wake Up Light Alarm Clock
Let the middle school graduate in your life feel ready for high school with this entertaining UFO-shaped alarm clock. A perfect graduation gift for a son or daughter, the alarm clock has two built-in alarms guaranteed to wake them up, plus it works as a speaker, lamp, and sound machine for nights, mornings, or any time of day.
Sugarwish Large Sweet Treats Select Box
Words can congratulate a middle schooler on their graduation day, but nothing says “I’m proud of you” like a bunch of super-delectable treats.
This Sugarwish sweet treats select box will delight any 8th-grade graduate instantly. It can be customized with candy, cookies, popcorn, and snacks for them to share with their friends or enjoy on their own.
Laptop Backpack
Get your proud middle schooler some eighth-grade graduation gifts that prepare him for the next phase: high school.
This laptop backpack will impress even the pickiest student with its compartments meant for everything from tech to small accessories and its water-resistant design. It even boasts a USB charger so they can stay connected wherever they go.
Beginner Skateboard
Let your favorite middle school graduate know how proud you are of them by rewarding all their hard work with this awesome beginner skateboard. It can be easily controlled as they learn new skills and offers safety in its durable build. They will love the summer after graduation even more with this terrific piece of fun beneath their feet.
Nintendo Switch Lite
Give this incredible Nintendo Switch Lite to your 8th-grade graduate and watch a smile grow on their face. This handheld gaming device is fun, lightweight, and offers hours of entertainment they’ve surely earned by now. Middle school graduation gift ideas like this one are guaranteed to get an A+.
LED Star Projector
Celebrate your favorite middle schooler’s big day by giving them this magical LED star projector. They can escape the day’s worries with the projector’s six different modes, including starry sky, underwater sea world, and celestial constellations. The detail of the projections and 360-degree rotation makes this a wonderful addition to your proud graduate’s space.
Noise Canceling Headphones
Middle school graduates won’t mind you getting them this pair of noise-canceling headphones so they can study because these headphones are equipped to keep the music in and the noise out. They’ll keep their ears quiet when need be and use their wireless Bluetooth capabilities to connect to any device or playlist they want.
Personalized Graduation Socks
Give the 8th-grade graduate in your life something fun to wear during their middle school graduation ceremony with these personalized socks. The socks are designed with a “class of 2022” design and the face of the happy graduate all over the place. They’ll love having these fun socks on them when they graduate and beyond.
Deluxe Teen Scooter
When the 8th-grade graduate you know is super jazzed about making it through middle school, you can make them even happier with this deluxe teen kick scooter. The scooter is lightweight, easy to use, and folds up neatly so they can even kick their way to and from their graduation ceremony should they decide to.
Compass Pendant Necklace
This stunning compass pendant necklace will become a cherished keepsake for your favorite 8th-grade graduate. The two-piece sterling silver necklace reminds the graduate you know to “go in the direction of your dreams.” The pretty pendant will wear well as she enters high school and remembers when she came from and all she achieved.