CMS graduations are approaching. Here’s the schedule + roads to avoid
Thousands of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students will walk across the stage to receive their diplomas in the coming weeks, with graduation ceremonies scheduled from May 22 to June 17.
These events are expected to draw large crowds to venues such as Ovens Auditorium, Bojangles Coliseum, and UNC Charlotte’s Halton Arena, so those planning to attend should anticipate significant traffic delays
Here’s the 2025 graduation schedule and roads to avoid around the Charlotte area leading up to the ceremonies.
2025 CMS graduation schedule
Here is the 2025 graduation schedule for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, along with links to watch the livestream of each ceremony:
Thursday, May 22: Ovens Auditorium
10 a.m.:Cato Middle College
1 p.m.: CPCC Early College
4 p.m.: Harper Middle College High School
7 p.m.: Merancas Middle College
Friday, May 23: Ovens Auditorium
8 a.m.: Levine Middle College
Wednesday, May 28: UNCC Popp Martin Student Union
4 p.m.: Charlotte Teachers Early College
6:30 p.m.: Charlotte Engineering Early College
Thursday, May 29: Charlotte Convention Center
7 p.m.: Metro School
Thursday, June 12: Bojangles Coliseum
12:30 p.m.: William A. Hough High School
4 p.m.: Independence High School
7:30 p.m.: Harding University High School
Thursday, June 12: Ovens Auditorium
8 a.m.: Charlotte Mecklenburg Virtual High/ Elbert Edwin Waddell/ PACE/ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Academy
11:30 a.m.: Northwest School of the Arts
Friday, June 13: Bojangles Coliseum
8:30 a.m.: South Mecklenburg High School
12 p.m.: Palisades High School
3:30 p.m.: Mallard Creek High School
7 p.m.: Garinger High School
Saturday, June 14: Bojangles Coliseum
8:30 a.m.: West Charlotte High School
12 p.m.: East Mecklenburg High School
3:30 p.m.: Olympic High School
7 p.m.: West Mecklenburg High School
Saturday, June 14: UNC Charlotte Halton Arena
8:30 a.m.: Rocky River High School
12 p.m.: Hopewell High School
3:30 p.m.: North Mecklenburg High School
Monday, June 16: Bojangles Coliseum Center
8:30 a.m.: Julius L. Chambers High School
12 p.m.: Providence High School
3:30 p.m.: David W. Butler High School
7 p.m.: Phillip O. Berry High School
Monday, June 16: Ovens Auditorium
8:30 a.m.: iMeck Academy
12 p.m.: John Taylor Williams Secondary Montessori
3:30 p.m.: Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences
Tuesday, June 17: Bojangles Coliseum
8:30 a.m.: Myers Park High School
12 p.m.: Ardrey Kell High School
Links to watch live streams of each ceremony are available at cmsk12.org/domain/6372.
What are CMS graduation ceremony venue policies?
Bojangles Coliseum requests that the following items not be brought into the facility:
Flowers
Duffel bags
Fanny packs
Backpacks
Gifts
Balloons
Air horns
Noisemakers
The venue’s bag policy also states that non-clear bags must not exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches in size, and clear bags may not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, according to the stadium’s policy.
Roads to avoid near CMS graduation ceremonies
Drivers can expect heavier-than-normal traffic on I-277, East Independence Boulevard and Monroe Road on May 22-23, June 12-14 and June 16-17, when ceremonies are being held at Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles Coliseum. These will be similar to the delays caused by former Vice President Kamala Harris’ visits during her presidential campaign late last year, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Those traveling near UNC Charlotte can also expect traffic delays along major corridors in the area on May 28 and June 14, when ceremonies will take place on campus. That includes North Tryon Street, University City Boulevard and West W.T. Harris Boulevard, according to the campus map.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM with the headline "CMS graduations are approaching. Here’s the schedule + roads to avoid."
