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Great Affordable Middle School Graduation Gifts Teens Will Love

Do you have an 8th grader graduating from middle school?

2021 UPDATE, this article may have been written while my boys were graduating 8th grade in previous years, but I think you’ll still find it extremely helpful. I’ve even updated it with new ideas for middle school graduation gifts.

I do. My first born son graduates from middle school in just over a month. We’re going through all of the end of the school year activities: field trips, awards ceremonies, and soon his middle school graduation. In between filling out the forms, requesting extra graduation tickets, and determining what he should wear, a question occurred to me.

It hadn’t crossed my mind to think about middle school graduation gifts. I remember when I graduated 8th grade, we had a formal dance. My mom made me a dress. Our school cafeteria was transformed into a prom-like setting. But I don’t remember too much else. I don’t remember if I got a middle school graduation gift. Do parents buy their 8th grader graduation gifts?

Teen with acceptance package to St. Augustine Prep
My 8th grader graduates this year. He’s a future Hermit grad.

Click over for Virtual Graduation Ideas

I went to Facebook to ask the question. (You can see or comment on the post here.) Facebook, Google, that’s where we go when we have a question, right?

Our Facebook fans came up with some great middle school graduation gift ideas like:

  • Jewelry
  • Apple watch
  • Broadway plays
  • First cell phone
  • Dinner at a restaurant
  • Musical instrument
  • Family vacation
  • Handmade gifts

While I liked all their ideas, some were outside my budget, not something my teen son would be into, or took some crafting skills I just don’t have. What I also realized by all the comments following the Facebook thread is that I’m not the only one struggling with what to get my son who is graduating middle school. Many of you are. And considering I’ll be in this same spot again next year when my next son graduates 8th grade, I knew I needed to do something about it.

Boys on hiking trail at Island Beach State Park
My current and future 8th graders. From left to right, Class of 2020, Class of 2023, Class of 2019.

On a whim, I turned to Amazon and searched middle school graduation gifts and I was quite pleased with the extensive variety of graduation gifts. So whether you call it a middle school graduation, junior high graduation, or 8th grade graduation there are gifts out there that are affordable and reasonable for our graduating teens. I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite graduation gifts. ALL can be bought online. So even if you’ve waited till almost the last minute you can still get a great middle school graduation gift.

A quick note about the links below. The links to family attractions are to attractions we think are great for teens. But in full transparency we’ve worked with all of them before in some capacity. There’s articles about each of them on our site so you can learn more about them. We aren’t being paid to link to them here, we’re linking to them to make it easier for you to buy your 8th grader a graduation gift.

The links to Amazon and Fandango are affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase we make a small commission. It doesn’t affect your pricing, but it does help my kids’ high school and graduation funds. You know that line you seem sometimes about buying/supporting a small business owner? It’s true. When you purchase through our Amazon or other affiliate links you support the small business of Jersey Family Fun and the moms that I employ to help me run Jersey Family Fun.

Finished DIY graduation paint kit from Board & Brush Red Bank NJ
Finished DIY graduation paint kit from Board & Brush Red Bank NJ

Now onto those great middle school graduation gifts, now updated with suggestions and and ideas for the Class of 2021. First let’s start with the middle school graduation cards.

8th Grade Graduation Cards

I love Hallmark, but sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect card from the instore selection. Amazon’s here to the rescue. Check out some 8th grade graduation cards your kids will be sure to love. BONUS you don’t have to go to several different stores to find the right middle school graduation card for your kid.

  • Hallmark 8th Grade Graduation Card
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Hallmark Dr. Seuss Graduation Card (Oh, The Places You’ll Go)
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Hallmark Harry Potter Graduation Card (Keep Believing)
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
cap and gown with text over it.

Middle School Graduation Gifts

Graduation Projects

Board & Brush DIY Graduation Paint Kits

As part of our article about New Jersey Gets Creative with Curbside Pickup Kits article Board & Brush Red Bank NJ sent us a DIY Graduation Paint Kit. My 8th grader loved it. It includes the board, 5 colors, paintbrushes, the stencil, and other supplies. With a generic Class of 2021 image it’s suitable not just for 8th grade graduates, but all graduates. To order or learn more visit boardandbrush.com/redbank or call (732) 955-9097.

graduation DIY Paint Kits from Board and Brush Red Bank NJ

8th Grade Graduation T-Shirts

The end of 8th grade means parties, field days, field trips, and special activities. Make it easy for your kids to say there outta there and ready for the next adventure with one of these great 8th grade graduation tshirts.

  • Last Day of School Autograph Shirt
    • Available in white only
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • I Survived 8th Grade Graduation Shirt
    • Available in 5 colors, I think this one would be my middle schooler’s favorite.
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Funny Peace Out 8th Grade Shirt Last Day of School
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Graduation Cap Middle School Nailed It Graduation Tshirt
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Straight Outta Middle School T-Shirt Funny Tee
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Straight Outta Eighth Grade Class of 2019 Graduation T-Shirt
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Junior High Graduation Gift Middle School Graduation T-Shirt
    • Available in 10 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Sloth Dabbing 8th Grade Graduation Shirt Eighth Grade Grad
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Dabbing Boy Middle School Nailed It Graduation Tshirt
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Funny Middle School Graduation Shirt 8th Grade
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Middle School Level Complete Gamer Graduation 2019 Shirt
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • 2019 Middle School Graduation Gift Junior High Student Shirt
    • Available in 5 colors
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.

Tickets & Season Passes to fun New Jersey attractions for teens

You can’t go wrong buying season passes or tickets to one of your teen’s favorite places to go. Help them have a summer packed with making memories before they have to buckle down to the real work of high school.

  • Six Flags Great Adventure
    • To buy tickets or season passes visit here.
    • To read our stories about Great Adventure click here.
Six Flags Great Adventure's Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth
A season pass can help your teen be one of the first to ride Six Flags Great Adventure’s Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth for the 2021 season.
  • iPlay America
    • To buy Power Play passes or all season passes visit here.
      • There may be an iPlay America’s Memorial Day sale, from 5/25-5/31. Last year during the sale the iPlay America All Season Premium Pass went down to $99.
    • To read our stories about iPlay America click here.
iPlay America Power Play Passes
Pick up a few iPlay America Power Play passes for an 8th grade graduation gift and your teen can bring a few friends.
  • FunPlex Mount Laurel
    • To buy FunPlex Mount Laurel wristbands and passes visit here.
    • To read our story about the FunPlex Mount Laurel – coming soon.
Teen bowls at FunPlex Mt. Laurel
Bowling, video games, laser tag, rides, and more can be included in a FunPlex pass.
  • FunPlex East Hanover
    • To buy wristbands or season passes visit here.
    • To read our stories about FunPlex East Hanover click here.

Movie Tickets

Get your graduating middle schooler a movie ticket gift card.

Middle School Graduation jewelry

  • Inspirational Bracelets with Positive Motivational Messages
    • Available as a 12 pack. Give your child one or share them with multiple teens. I thought this could be a great addition to an 8th grade graduation gift especially for the teen that wouldn’t normally be into graduation jewelry.
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Inspirational Necklace for Women Teen Girls
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.

Books that will inspire your graduating middle schoolers

  • Moving On From The Middle: To ___________ On Your Graduation from Junior High School
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • She Believed She Could, So She Did (mini book)
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Seuss-isms! A Guide to Life for Those Just Starting Out…and Those Already on Their Way
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  •  The Manual to Manhood: How to Cook the Perfect Steak, Change a Tire, Impress a Girl & 97 Other Skills You Need to Survive
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.

Novelty and unique Middle School graduation gifts

  • All City Candy’s Graduation Candy Bar Poem Gift Bucket
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Class of 2021 Temporary Tattoos
    • Not meant to be THE graduation gift these graduation temporary tattoos will still be a hit with your graduating 8th graders.
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Graduation Mad Libs
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Bearington Smarty Class of 2021 Graduation Plush Teddy Bear
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • Bearington Wisdom Class of 2021 Graduation Plush Stuffed Animal Owl
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.
  • You Are BRAVER Than You Believe, STRONGER than you seem, SMARTER than you think & LOVED more than you know-Engraved REAL GLASS Paperweight
    • Buy it with this link. Yes, it’s available with Amazon Prime.
    • Pictured below.

Amazon Gift Card

Didn’t see something you like? It happens. Teens love money and gift cards. You can never go wrong with one of these Amazon graduation gift cards. Buy it in any amount you like with this link.

What will you buy from our list of Middle School graduation gifts? What would you add to the list?

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