I doubt that those early grade parties have much impact any which way.
I think they are the sort of thing that makes a certain type of parent or teacher feel good, so they end up happening when those people decide to make them happen. The kids get some cake and forget about it a week later (or maybe 2 weeks into the stress of starting at a new school).
As far as I know, the message that graduating high school is important gets hammered on over and over (and then it isn't particularly important, a GED works about as well anywhere a diploma is supposed to matter).
I think they are the sort of thing that makes a certain type of parent or teacher feel good, so they end up happening when those people decide to make them happen. The kids get some cake and forget about it a week later (or maybe 2 weeks into the stress of starting at a new school).
As far as I know, the message that graduating high school is important gets hammered on over and over (and then it isn't particularly important, a GED works about as well anywhere a diploma is supposed to matter).