8th grade graduation..gift?

I'd do the check for $20.15 and a nice card. It's not a lot but let's them know you wish them well. They did think you were special enough to invite you and you'd easily spend that doing something else. 

I think a check for $20.15 or an iTunes gift card would be more than appropriate!

Agreed! 

I can't believe someone is having a party for passing the eighth grade. Utterly ridiculous in my opinion, and I would not be giving a gift in the instance. But, that's not what you asked, so in this case, I would probably give a small token, a five dollar gc to McDonald's or an ice cream place or a five dollar iTunes card. Definitely would not be giving a gift equivalent to what I would give an actual graduate.

That's what I gave for high school graduation gifts. My kids are 16 and 20 and we live in a town where "everybody knows everybody" (graduating classes have less than 80 kids, so literally, we all know each other). Just including our kids and family "close friends" I gave out 6 graduation cards this year. I couldn't afford to give them all $100!!!! They each got a check for $20.15. Last year it was $20.14 and that will continue until we are finished having to give multiple graduation gifts. 

I don't have a 6 figure salary so they receive what my budget allows.

I am sometimes blown away at how much people have mentioned here that they give for high school graduation, college graduation or wedding gifts. I just can't afford a gift in the hundreds and most people I know can't either. When my oldest graduated from high school, the only person that gave her more than $50 were her grandparents. Everyone else was in the $20-50 category. Maybe it's regional.

ETA:
And for the record, I would do the $20.15 for 8th grade grad a well.

back in the day I had an 8th grade graduation. Many of the kids in my class had been together since Kindergarten, moving into high school was and is a big deal. I can still remember my dress from my graduation, it had a deep v in the back and I remember feeling so "adult" wearing it.

I think a check for 20.15 is a great idea, fun and a little mad money for the summer.

I'm sorry - but that does sting a little. Here in our area, our schools only go to Grade 8 and then they move on to high school. We don't have "middle school" - we just have Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade. (or in the case of the public high schools - most are JK-6 and then 7&8).

It is the custom here to have a celebration for these kids. In our case, the school holds a dinner and graduation celebration. Awards are given out, some are awards sponsored by parent council or the church, and a monetary award comes with the plaque. It isn't just parents deciding to have a "party" because their snowflake passed a grade.

These kids have spent 10 years in this school - the longest they are likely to be in any school location. It most certainly is a graduation. It isn't just "passing 8th grade" - they are leaving behind grade school, and moving on to high school.

That said - we don't usually give gifts to all kids we know graduating (even high school or University level). We may have a celebration here at the house for immediate family at the high school level though, and my Mom gave each of her grandchildren a nice cheque for Grade 8 graduation (it paid for my kids to go on their Quebec trip in Grade 8) - but the school held celebration dinner/awards banquet is all we are likely to do for DS.

Well said Kellie!