Dear MCHS Class of 2025,
Congratulations! High school graduation is an important milestone. Your graduation is an accomplishment that we are excited to celebrate. In preparation for your commencement ceremony, we wish to share some pertinent information that will ensure your day will run smoothly.
Senior Decision & Exit Survey
All seniors are required to complete the Senior Decision & Exit Survey by May 2nd, so MCHS can prepare for end of year processes. MCHS needs to report senior plans to DPS and NCDPI. If plans change, students should re-submit the Senior Exit Survey. Students will have till May 27th to make any changes to the MCHS Senior Decision Exit Survey.
❖ Seniors should also submit the Scholarship Reporting Survey to report any scholarship dollars earned.
Graduation Rehearsal
Graduation Rehearsal is mandatory for all seniors and junior marshals who plan to participate in the ceremony. Tickets, honor cords, and any remaining stoles will be distributed directly following graduation rehearsal.
Graduation Rehearsal
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
NCCU McDougald-McLendon Arena
700 E. Lawson St.
Durham, NC 27701
Senior Day
The senior celebration will be an opportunity to prepare for graduation, practice the processional, and enjoy some great food and community!
Friday, May 23, 2025
9:30am - 10:30 am Maverick Awards Ceremony
Location: Durham Tech 5-100
Seniors are invited to wear their cap and gown to the Awards Ceremony
11:00am - 12:00pm Mandatory Assembly
Location: Durham Tech 5-100
12:00pm-2:00pm Senior Luncheon
Please use this form to RSVP by May 6th, so we know how much food to order.
Location: Building 10 Multi-Purpose Room
Graduation Commencement Ceremony
Graduation will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 6:00pm. All graduates should arrive by 5:15pm. The ceremony will last approximately 1 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
Graduation tickets will be distributed at the end of Graduation Rehearsal on May 27, 2025 from 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Each senior will receive 10 tickets. Children aged two and under who will remain seated on the lap of an adult 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 need to have their own ticket.
Entrance
On graduation day, all students will line-up in the hall to the right of the gym entrance as you stand facing the stage. Students will be organized into alphabetical order. Students should plan to arrive between 5:00 pm and 5:15 pm.
Seating
Seating will be general admissions. Gates will open 1 hour prior to graduation start time. Please advise your family to arrive early.
ADA Seating
If anyone attending your graduation requires special ADA seating accommodations (wheelchair, etc), please complete the form found here. 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 graduation rehearsal. ADA tickets count as a part of the 10 total graduation tickets distributed.
Parking
Graduates and families should park across Lawson Street from the McDougald-Mclendon Arena in the NCCU Parking Deck on graduation day.
705 E Lawson St.
Durham, NC 27701
Regalia
All graduates should wear full MCHS regalia including gown, cap, tassel, and MCHS stole. Please contact Mrs. Silva if you have any questions regarding regalia and regalia orders. MCHS Stoles will be distributed with graduation tickets at rehearsal. The last day to order a cap and gown from Jostens is April 30, 2025. Students can order online through Jostens’ website linked here.
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
Worn straight on the head, the top of the cap should be flat, parallel to the ground. Please note that decorated caps will not be permitted.
Tassel
Worn over the right temple before a student graduates. MCHS Students are only permitted to wear the approved MCHS Josten’s tassel to graduation, and should not wear any additional or specialty tassels.
Honor Cords
Per Middle College policy, as outlined in the MCHS Student/Family Handbook only approved MCHS and/or DTCC Honor Cords are to be worn at graduation. All approved Honor Cords will be distributed along with tickets at graduation rehearsal on May 27th at 1:30pm.
Graduate Dress Code
The faculty and staff of Durham Public Schools want to make your graduation a most memorable experience. We ask for your full cooperation with the dress code for graduation. If you have any questions as to the appropriate dress for the occasion, please check with Principal Brown, Mrs. Machak, or Mrs. Tugman. Any students, due to extenuating circumstances or extreme hardship, who cannot acquire an item necessary to meet the dress code requirements should discuss the situation with Mrs. Machak or Principal Brown prior to the Senior Luncheon.
Acceptable Graduation Attire:
● 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 topsiders, boots, bedroom slippers/fuzzy slippers, or athletic shoes)
■ CAUTION: Heel height should be comfortable 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)
● No jeans
Decorated caps, decorated masks, purses and/or book bags
will NOT be 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, and all purses must be clear/see through.
Graduation Name Reading
At graduation, student names will be pronounced phonetically. Phonetic pronunciation of the first, middle, and last names is saying them as they sound, not as they are written.
For example: David Baranowski (David Ba-ra-nof-ski)
Jane Liley (Jane Ligh-lee - rhymes with highly)
Pei-Ling Huang (Pay-Lyn Hu-ang)
Ravish Shekaraiah (Raveesh Shek-ra-ja).
Please complete this 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 Taylor Simon with their right hand, and they will receive their diploma cover with their left hand.
● 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.
Health Protocol
For the safety of all attendees, please refrain from attending the graduation ceremony if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms: fever, sustained cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of sense of taste or smell, ongoing diarrhea, repeated vomiting, continuous nausea.
Senior Graduation Surveys
Senior Decision & Exit Survey Due May 2nd at 4 PM
Scholarship Reporting Survey Due May 16th at 4 PM
Graduation ADA Seating Survey Due May 9th at 4 PM
Graduation Name Survey Due May 16th at 4 PM
Senior Luncheon RSVP Due May 2nd at 4 PM
Maverick Awards RSVP Due April 28th at 4 PM
*DPS Information regarding graduation will continue to be updated on the DPS website here as it is made available.*