22. Graduation

As Malcolm struggles with writing his valedictorian speech and must decide between going to Harvard and accepting a dream job, Hal consults with organized crime to raise the last $5,000 he needs to send Malcolm to college. Meanwhile, Reese moves in with Craig and becomes an assistant janitor at the high school. Dewey threatens to blackmail Francis so the boys can get his help destroying evidence of their fake X-ray of Lois having cancer to distract her from their bad report cards from years ago. After Reese's plan to make the worst mess ever so he can prove his worth as a janitor ends with an explosion in the family car, Malcolm goes on a rant about how his family makes everything so hard for him.

Lois reveals she and the other family members planned this all along so Malcolm can become President of the United States, specifically one who legitimately cares about the middle class. Nevertheless, Malcolm finally reconciles with Lois as he makes his speech. In an epilogue three months later, Reese and Craig become best friends, and Reese keeps his job as a janitor after he frames his boss for installing peepholes in the girls' bathroom; Dewey and Jamie continue their brothers' tradition of causing household mischief; Francis enjoys life with a stable office job, but still argues with Lois about being an unemployed slacker; Hal and Lois panic when Lois discovers she is pregnant again; and Malcolm finally attends Harvard on work study as a janitor.