Normal graduations are back this year. Here’s when Triangle schools hold ceremonies.
Thousands of Triangle high school seniors will receive their diplomas this week in what will be the first normal graduation ceremonies since before the pandemic.
The Wake County, Durham, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Orange and Chatham County school systems will hold graduation ceremonies for their traditional-calendar high schools starting Friday, June 10.
The Class of 2022 will enjoy benefits that weren’t afforded to their predecessors during the pandemic.
Unlike last year, school districts such as Durham Public Schools and Orange County won’t require face masks at the ceremonies or reduce seating capacity due to COVID-19. Also unlike last year, Wake County high schools won’t hold graduation ceremonies at their football stadiums but will instead return to the Raleigh Convention Center.
Here are some tips if you plan to go to a graduation.
Prepare for traffic
People traveling to the Raleigh Convention Center will compete with traffic from downtown workers and from concerts, street fairs or other special events. In particular, graduation attendees will compete for parking spaces Friday and Saturday with people attending concerts at the Red Hat Amphitheater.
The Wake County school system is urging people to allow for ample time to anticipate traffic congestion, parking issues, walking to the venue and finding their seats. Carpooling is being encouraged.
The parking spaces located along McDowell Street adjacent to the Raleigh Convention Center under the “Shimmer Wall” will be reserved for passenger drop-offs for the duration of the graduation schedule. There will also be a drop-off zone off of Cabarrus Street.
What not to bring
Balloons, beach balls, Frisbees, noisemakers, signs and silly string are typically not allowed at the ceremonies.
The Raleigh Convention Center also prohibits items such as flowers in glass vases, all food and drinks and wrapped packages.
The Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill follow a clear bag policy. This means items such as backpacks, fanny packs and camera bags are not allowed.
Some venues also limit the size of the bags that visitors can bring.
More information
Some school districts have put together websites with their graduation schedules, links to watching the ceremonies online and tips for attending the ceremony.
Wake County school system: wcpss.net/graduation
Durham Public Schools: www.dpsnc.net/domain/124
Chapel Hill-Carrboro: graduation.chccs.org/
Graduation schedule
Friday, June 10
▪ Broughton High School, Holliday Gym, 10 a.m.
▪ Northwood High School, football field, 10 a.m.
▪ Phoenix Academy, East Chapel Hill High, 10 a.m.
▪ Lakeview School, school, 11 a.m.
▪ Performance Learning Center, school, 1 p.m.
▪ Orange High School, Dean E. Smith Center, 4:30 p.m.
▪ Ignite! Online Academy, W.H. Pearson Center, 5 p.m.
▪ Project SEARCH, Crossroads III, 5 p.m.
▪ Chatham Central High School, Wicker Center, 7 p.m.
▪ Cedar Ridge High School, Dean E. Smith Center, 7:30 p.m.
▪ Sanderson High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 11
▪ Holly Springs High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 a.m.
▪ East Chapel Hill High School, Dean E. Smith Center, 9 a.m.
▪ Jordan-Matthews High School, football field, 10 a.m.
▪ Athens Drive High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 12 p.m.
▪ Chapel Hill High School, Dean E. Smith Center, 1 p.m.
▪ Longview School, Meymandi Hall, 2 p.m.
▪ Garner High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 4 p.m.
▪ Carrboro High School, Dean E. Smith Center, 5 p.m.
▪ Phillips High School, Meymandi Hall, 6 p.m.
▪ Rolesville High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 p.m.
Monday, June 13
▪ Heritage High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 a.m.
▪ Southern School of Energy & Sustainability, Cameron Indoor Stadium, 9 a.m.
▪ Panther Creek High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 12 p.m.
▪ School for Creative Studies, Cameron Indoor Stadium, 12:15 p.m.
▪ Crossroads FLEX, Meymandi Hall, 2 p.m.
▪ Northern High School, Cameron Indoor Stadium, 3:30 p.m.
▪ Leesville Road High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 4 p.m.
▪ SCORE Academy, Meymandi Hall, 6 p.m.
▪ Durham School of the Arts, Cameron Indoor Stadium, 6:45 p.m.
▪ Millbrook High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, June 14
▪ Wake Forest High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 a.m.
▪ Hillside High School, Cameron Indoor Stadium, 9 a.m.
▪ Fuquay-Varina High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 12 p.m.
▪ Riverside High School, Cameron Indoor Stadium, 1 p.m.
▪ Apex Friendship High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 4 p.m.
▪ Jordan High School, Cameron Indoor Stadium, 5 p.m.
▪ Enloe High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 15
▪ Wakefield High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 a.m.
▪ Cary High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 12 p.m.
▪ Middle Creek High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 4 p.m.
▪ Green Hope High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 16
▪ South Garner High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 a.m.
▪ Green Level High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 12 p.m.
▪ Apex High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 4 p.m.
▪ East Wake High School, Raleigh Convention Center, 8 p.m.
This story was originally published June 6, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
