The ceremony will include graduates walking across the field to Pomp and Circumstance to receive their diploma covers. School principals, Superintendent Steve Flores, RRISD board of trustees members and professional photographers will be in attendance, the release states.
The in-person commencement walks will adhere to Gov. Greg Abbott's Phase 1 reopening provisions that allow for 25% occupancy, RRISD spokesperson Maritza Gallaga confirmed in a May 5 email. Gallaga said the events were designed with social distancing measures in mind.
"As each family and their car enter the stadium, they will be placed on the queue, which will determine the order they enter the stadium," Gallaga said. "As they wait, they are asked to do so in their cars so the only time they are allowed in the stadium is once the appropriate amount of graduates and their families have exited and space is available."
The in-person commencement will also be complemented by a virtual graduation ceremony for graduates, which will be released June 5 at 7 p.m.
RRISD is also working with Cedar Park's H-E-B Center to hold Aug. 6-8 for a possible in-person graduation ceremony, should large gatherings be allowed, per the release.
More details for the May 18-23 events—including arrival times, parking and accessibility—will be detailed by district officials in the coming days.
The schedule for the May commencement ceremonies is as follows:
- May 18: Success High School, 8-11 a.m.
- May 18: Early College High School, 5-8 p.m.
- May 19: Stony Point High School
- May 20: McNeil High School
- May 21: Cedar Ridge High School
- May 22: Westwood High School
- May 23: Round Rock High School
The Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex is located at 10211 W. Parmer Lane, Austin.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include additional information on RRISD's May 18-23 in-person commencement walks.
