Caroline hopes the occasion will help Max reconnect with her estranged mother. She invites Max's mother to the graduation ceremony, but her mother ultimately fails to show up.
The episode highlights the deep bond between Max and Caroline, as well as the support system Max has built at the diner, proving that her chosen family is more reliable than her biological one. [S3E24] And The First Degree
Determined to change this, Caroline convinces Max to study and travel back to her hometown so she can take the final test and earn her degree. Caroline hopes the occasion will help Max reconnect
Caroline finds out that Max never actually graduated from high school because she failed to show up for a single history exam. [S3E24] And The First Degree