The Berry Center offers several entrance points for guests attending Cy-Fair ISD graduations this June. The Berry Center offers several entrance points for guests attending Cy-Fair ISD graduations this June.[/caption]

As Cy-Fair ISD high school seniors walk across the Berry Center stage to receive their diplomas this week, the center’s staff expects about 7,000 people to come through for each of the 11 ceremonies.

With the large turnout and construction underway on Barker Cypress Road, Berry Center staff are doing everything they can to make sure things run smoothly as they host graduation ceremonies for the 11th year, said Beth Wade, the venue’s director.

“Now that Greenhouse [Road] is open, we recommend taking that,” Wade said. “Guests can come up [FM] 529 or across Tuckerton Road.”

Although people often assume they have to come in the main entrance, Wade said Entrance 3—the side access by West Road—could provide a much shorter wait to get in. Entrances 2 and 3 will be available with multiple doors opened at either end, she said.

Guests must have a ticket to attend graduation ceremonies, Wade said. Tickets are issued through www.cfisd.net. For those unable to attend, each ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube.

Graduates must arrive at the center an hour and a half before graduation. Attendees can take advantage of free parking and enter the arena as early as one hour before each ceremony begins, Wade said. Guests may not reserve seats.

“Saving seats does cause an inconvenience for guests,” Wade said. “Sometimes we have people trying to find a seat and they can’t because guests are trying to hold seats.”

Elevators and handicap guest drop-off areas will be located at both entrances. Handicap seating as well as wheelchair escorts will be available. Interpreters for the hearing impaired will be on site in section 107, officials said.

Out of respect for the graduates, noisemakers like air horns will not be permitted. Strollers, balloons, signs, banners, flowers and gifts are also prohibited in the Berry Center, Wade said. No outside food is allowed, but guests may bring bottled water and take advantage of concessions.

To expedite the entry process, attendees are encouraged to leave handbags at home, Wade said.

“We’ve now opened up a no-bag line, so if you don’t have a bag or a tote, that speeds up people getting in,” she said.

Professional photographs will be taken by a third party and can be purchased here. Camcorders and DSLR cameras are permitted, but tripods, super telephoto lenses and other professional photography equipment are not.

Each ceremony is set to last approximately one hour and 40 minutes. Check the Berry Center’s Facebook page for updates throughout the week. A map of the parking lot can be downloaded here.

Graduations for each of CFISD’s 11 high schools are listed below:

June 1

  • Windfern High School of Choice: 7 p.m.


June 2

  • Cypress Ridge High School: 3:30 p.m.

  • Cypress Springs High School: 7:30 p.m.


June 3

  • Cypress Woods High School: 8 a.m.

  • Jersey Village High School: noon

  • Langham Creek High School: 4 p.m.

  • Cy-Fair High School: 8 p.m.


June 4

  • Cypress Creek High School: 8 a.m.

  • Cypress Falls High School: noon

  • Cypress Lakes High School: 4 p.m.

  • Cypress Ranch High School: 8 p.m.