I’m excited to share important updates regarding Graduation and upcoming senior activities, including Decision Day, Senior Breakfast, and the graduation rehearsal schedule. Please review the upcoming Graduation Rehearsal schedule below. Please mark your calendar and make it a priority to attend, as your participation is essential for a successful ceremony!
Rehearsal Dates | Time | Location |
Tue. April 22 | 10:00 AM | Lab |
* Wed. April 30 (Awards Day) | 9:30 AM | Lab |
Wed. May 7 | 10:00 AM | Lab |
Wed. May 14 | 10:00 AM | Lab |
Tues. May 27 | 12:00 PM | @NCCU McLendon/McDougald Arena |
Senior Breakfast and Decision Day - Friday, May 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Cafeteria - (For Seniors and DST teachers and staff only).
Graduation Commencement Ceremony
Graduation will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. All graduates should arrive by 2:00 p.m. The ceremony will last approximately one hour. (Once graduates have begun their march into the stadium, no one will be permitted to join. Do not be late!)
Location: NCCU McDougald-McLendon Arena
700 E. Lawson St.
Durham, NC 27701
Graduation Tickets
Seniors may request tickets by completing the Graduation Ticket Request and Exit Survey Link. Graduation tickets will be distributed at the end of the Graduation Rehearsal on May 27, 2025; each senior may request up to 10 tickets. If additional tickets are needed beyond the 10 that were requested, students must also complete an additional ticket request form. Children aged two and under who will remain seated on an adult's lap for the duration of the graduation ceremony will not require a ticket. Children over age two and those under age two who will require their own seat must have their ticket.
Graduation Rehearsal on May 27 and Graduation Day Entrance
All students will line up in the hall to the right of the gym entrance as you stand facing the stage. Enter through the doors underneath the stairs at the entrance. Students will be organized in alphabetical order. On graduation day, students should plan to arrive between 1:30 and 2:00 PM.
Seating
Seating will be general admission. The gates will open one hour before the start of graduation. Please advise your family to arrive early.
ADA Seating
If anyone attending your graduation requires special ADA seating accommodations (wheelchair, etc), please complete the ticket request form. Please complete this form by May 9, 2025, to ensure we can appropriately distribute tickets. These guests are allowed to have one ADA ticketed escort sit with them. Upon arrival at graduation, these guests and their escorts will enter the venue together via the lower-level ADA entrance, provide their names, and enter with their ADA tickets. ADA tickets will be distributed along with all other tickets at the end of the graduation rehearsal. ADA tickets count as a part of the 10 total graduation tickets distributed.
Parking
Graduating seniors and their families should park in the NCCU Parking Deck across Lawson Street from the McDougald-McLendon Arena on graduation day. Address: 705 E Lawson St., Durham, NC 27701
Regalia
All graduates should wear full DST regalia, including gown, cap, tassel, and DST-issued stoles (ie, VAL, SAL, SGA, or FBLA stoles, if applicable). Please get in touch with Ms. Hyman if you have any questions regarding regalia.
Gowns
Neatly pressed (use a cool iron or hang up in a bathroom to allow steam from the shower to help the wrinkles fall out).
Caps
When worn straight on the head, the top of the cap should be flat and parallel to the ground. Please note that decorated caps are not permitted.
Tassel
Worn over the right temple before a student graduates. DST students are only permitted to wear the approved Jostens and DTCC tassels to graduation, and should not wear any additional or specialty tassels.
Honor Cords
Only DST-issued or DTCC-issued Honor Cords may be worn at graduation. Personal stoles may be worn under the gown or removed for the ceremony.
Graduate Dress Code
The faculty and staff of Durham Public Schools want to make your graduation a memorable experience. We ask for your full cooperation with the dress code. If you have any questions about the appropriate dress for the occasion, please check with Ms. Hyman, Dr. Foster, or Principal Dixon. Due to extenuating circumstances or extreme hardship, students who cannot acquire an item necessary to meet the dress code requirements should discuss the situation with Mr. Dixon.
● Skirt with a white dress shirt or blouse
● Dress pants/slacks (no jeans) with a white dress shirt or blouse
○ Dress tie or bow tie (if applicable)
● Dress
Additional Details:
● Dark shoes or neutral shoes (no Crocs, topsiders, boots, bedroom slippers/fuzzy slippers, slides, flip flops, or athletic shoes)
■ CAUTION: The heel height should be comfortable for standing for at least an hour and for brisk, safe walking up and down stairs. Flat shoes or wedges are recommended.
● Dark dress socks and neutral hosiery (if applicable)
● Small stud earrings (no dangling jewelry as it will get caught in your tassel).
● No jeans
Decorated caps, masks, purses, and/or book bags are NOT allowed in the procession.
Graduation Bag Policy
Everyone will be required to pass through metal detectors upon entering McDougald-McLendon Arena. To ensure a smooth ceremony, kindly avoid bringing balloons, flowers, signs, noisemakers, or gifts. We will not permit these items inside the venues. Please leave them at home. All bags must be smaller than 4.5" x 6.5" x 1". However, diaper bags and medical bags will be allowed. Cameras are permitted, but not the camera bag. There will be no book bags allowed. NCCU has a clear bag policy; all purses must be clear/see-through.
Graduation Name Reading
At graduation, student names will be pronounced phonetically. Phonetic pronunciation refers to saying the first, middle, and last names as they sound, not as they are written.
For example: David John Baranowski (David John Ba-ra-nof-ski)
Jane Liley Smith (Jane Ligh-lee - rhymes with highly, Smith)
Ravish Shekaraiah (Raveesh Shek-ra-ja).
Please complete the Pronunciation Form to document the phonetic pronunciation of your full name.
Graduation Day Etiquette
● Seniors should remain quiet at all times and stay in line.
● Balloons, noise makers, and signs are prohibited.
● No gum is allowed.
● Seniors will graduate in alphabetical order by last name.
● Marshals will direct seniors when to stand and when to walk to the stage.
● Seniors should stand and sit together simultaneously by row.
● When crossing the stage, seniors will shake hands with Principal Dixon with their right hand and receive their diploma cover with their left hand. Then pose with Mr. Dixon for a photo.
● After receiving your diploma cover, continue to walk across the stage and smile at any dignitaries who may be on stage with you. Go down the steps and return to your seat.
● Remain standing until everyone from your row has returned to your seat.
● After everyone has received their diploma cover, the superintendent will declare you graduates of Durham Public Schools. At that time, all seniors will turn the tassel on their caps from the right to the left.
Diplomas
After the ceremony, all students will remain in alphabetical order so that the diplomas can be issued quickly after the ceremony. Students who owe fees for lost laptops or chargers must pay the costs prior to graduation, before a diploma can be issued.