HOUSTON — Houston high school seniors may have their big graduation moment this year.
Gov. Greg Abbott said all Texas schools are allowed to host hybrid graduation ceremonies beginning June 1.
The governor said social distancing practices and attended screenings must be followed at certain ceremonies, prompting some districts to limit their events to students and faculty only. Drive-thru graduation events and parades are also allowed.
With Texas school districts forced to close amid the coronavirus pandemic, graduation seemed a bit bleak for area high school seniors as commencement ceremonies, prom and other celebrations were canceled.
Now with the governor's permission, many Houston area school districts are shifting gears.
We'll continue updating this list as plans are announced.
HISD: There won't be any pomp and circumstance for the 11,000 members of the Class of 2020 in the Houston Independent School District.
Instead, they'll be honored with virtual graduation ceremonies beginning on Sunday, June 14.
Virtual graduations will allow students and families to celebrate the milestone event of completing high school while protecting their health and safety, HISD said in a statement.
Each virtual ceremony will include recorded messages from the superintendent and other district officials, as well as audio of each student’s name as their personalized slide is displayed. More details here.
Houston ISD graduating seniors will also be honored with a celebration organized by the city of Houston. It will take place June 5 and only Houston-area students and faculty are invited. Family and friends will be able to watch the ceremony on HISD-TV or on the district's social media platforms.
Mayor Sylvester Turner said the celebration will feature special guests, celebrity appearances and other surprise moments. Seniors are encouraged to dress in caps, gowns and masks.
No diplomas will be issued at the celebration.
Meanwhile, the district is exploring alternative plans for graduation ceremonies, should they need to cancel.
The district is asking seniors and/or their families to take a survey on how they would like to proceed with graduation plans.
Click here to be directed to the survey.
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Aldine ISD graduation ceremonies will take place at the M.O. Campbell Education Center May 28 - 30. Click here to find specific schools and times at the district website.
Conroe ISD is holding outdoor graduations at Woodforest Bank Stadium June 1-5.
June 1
8 a.m.: Hauke HS
8 p.m.: Caney Creek HS
June 2
8 a.m./8 p.m.: The Woodlands HS
June 3
8 a.m./8 p.m.: Oak Ridge HS
June 4
8 a.m./8 p.m.: Conroe HS
June 5
8 a.m./8 p.m.: TW College Park HS
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is holding morning and night graduation ceremonies at the Berry Center from June 1 - 6.
Monday, June 1, 2020
- Langham Creek 8:00 a.m.
- Cy-Fair 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
- Cypress Creek 8:00 a.m.
- Cypress Falls8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 8, 2020
- Cypress Lakes 8:00 a.m.
- Cypress Ranch 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 4, 2020
- Cypress Ridge 8:00 a.m.
- Cypress Springs 8:00 p.m.
Friday, June 5, 2020
- Cypress Woods 8:00 a.m.
- Jersey Village 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 6, 2020
- Cypress Park 8:00 a.m.
- Bridgeland 8:00 p.m.
Fort Bend ISD will be holding 2020 graduation ceremonies for all high schools at the district's Kenneth Hall Stadium from June 1-6. District officials said it will be a "safe, non-contact event for graduates and guests."
The schedule for all ceremonies is below, with additional days added in case of bad weather.
Monday, June 1, 2020
8:00 a.m. Austin HS
8:00 p.m. Ridge Point HS
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
8:00 a.m. Hightower HS
8:00 p.m. Bush HS
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
8:00 a.m. Elkins HS
8:00 p.m. Dulles HS
Thursday, June 4, 2020
8:00 a.m. Clements HS
8:00 p.m. Marshall HS
Friday, June 5, 2020
8:00 a.m. Kempner HS
8:00 p.m. Travis HS
Saturday, June 6, 2020
8:00 a.m. Willowridge HS
8:00 p.m. Makeup Slot
Sunday, June 7, 2020
8:00 p.m. Makeup Slot
Monday, June 8, 2020
8:00 a.m. Makeup Slot
Click here to read the latest updates on the district website.
Galveston ISD Ball High School has several events planed to celebrate its students, including an honorary display and parade.
Beginning May 7, a large banner with the names each graduating senior will be hung for photo ops.
Ball High Grads 2020 Seawall Parade will take place May 13 at 2 p.m. Moving along Seawall Boulevard, it will start at 83rd Street and End at 7th Street, the school said.
The seniors and their families will be spectators for the parade and are asked to wear caps and gowns and purple attire to show support of the Ball High School graduates.
Gelena Park ISD will be holding virtual graduation ceremonies on Sunday, May 31 at the following times:
- North Shore Senior High School at 9 a.m.
- Galena Park High School at 1 p.m.
- Galena Park I.S.D. CTE Early College High School 4 p.m.
Katy ISD will hold outdoor graduations at Legacy Stadium from June 17-25. All graduations are scheduled for 8 p.m. The schedule is:
June 17: Mayde Creek High School
June 18: Cinco Ranch High School
June 19. Seven Lakes High School
June 20: Morton Ranch High School
June 21: Tompkins High School
June 23: Paetow High School
June 24: Katy High School
June 25: Taylor High School
There will be recorded speeches from the class valedictorian and salutatorian, Superintendent Ken Gregorski among other memorable moments. For more information, visit the District’s Graduation web page.
Pasadena ISD high school graduation ceremonies will take place July 29-30 at NRG Stadium. The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, July 30
- Pasadena High School at 1 p.m.
- Lewis Career and Technical High School at 12 p.m.
- Dobie High School at 7 p.m.
Friday, July 31
- South Houston High School at 4 p.m.
- Sam Rayburn High School at 4 p.m.
- Pasadena Memorial High School at 7 p.m.
These graduations will also be viewable through livestream here on the Pasadena ISD website.
Summer School commencement ceremonies will be held Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. at Sam Rayburn High School.
Spring ISD will be honoring its students with both virtual and in-person graduation ceremonies.
Virtual graduation ceremonies will be held June 6 at the following times:
- 9 a.m. Dekaney High School
- 11:30 a.m. Spring Early College Academy
- 2 p.m. Westfield High School
- 4:30 p.m. Spring High School
- 7 p.m. Carl Wunsche Sr. High School
In-person graduation ceremonies will be held at Planet Ford Stadium for the following dates:
- Monday, July 27 - Dekaney High School
- Tuesday, July 28 - Spring Early College Academy
- Wednesday, July 29 - Westfield High School
- Thursday, July 30 - Spring High School
- Friday, July 31 - Carl Wunsche Sr. High School
All in-person ceremonies will be begin at 7 p.m.
Spring Branch ISD graduation ceremonies will take place June 1-6 at Tully Stadium. Here's the schedule:
- Monday, June 1 - Memorial High School
- Tuesday, June 2 - Northbrook High School
- Wednesday, June 3 - Stratford High School
- Thursday, June 4 - Spring Woods High School
- Saturday, June 6 - Westchester Academy
- Saturday, June 6 -Rain Date (times TBA, if needed)
Tomball ISD seniors at Tomball High School and Tomball Memorial High School will have gradation ceremonies at the Berry Center on Friday, July 2020. Specific times haven't been decided. Find the latest updates here on the TISD website.
Private Schools
Incarnate Word Academy: The school is having a drive-by celebration where members of the senior class will collect their graduation caps and gowns, letters to students from individual faculty and staff members, senior T-shirts and special Class of 2020 yard signs. Members of the faculty and staff will be stationed at six-foot intervals along the drive-by route, waving signs and cheering to celebrate our senior class.
It will happen May 1 starting at 11 a.m.
ST. PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL: St. Pius X high school graduation will take place on the same day as originally scheduled but the location has been changed. The ceremony will now be held at Showboat Drive-In, located in Hockley, Texas.
Students will still walk across a “stage” to receive their diplomas, but they will be spaced at least 6-feet apart. Families will be cheering their graduate on from the comfort and safety of their cars, spaced 12 feet apart, while watching the festivities on the theater’s two jumbo movie screens.
Graduates and their families will be encouraged to decorate their cars to add to the celebratory atmosphere.
There will still be valedictorian and salutatorian speeches, and an address by Armistead, but the usual Mass will be replaced with an event that will be infused with prayer and the prayerful spirit that is so much a part of St. Pius X High School.