Graduation ceremony dates for Alief high schools have been set, with a change of venue for some high schools.
Early College High School Knights will walk the stage at the Don Coleman Coliseum in Spring Branch ISD on Thursday, May 25, at 4 PM, while Kerr High School seniors will receive their diplomas at 7 PM.
Hastings High School will see its seniors cross the stage at 9 AM Friday, June 2; Taylor High School will follow at 2 PM; and Elsik High School seniors will receive their diplomas at 7 PM, all at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy ISD.
The Merrell Center, located at 6301 South Stadium Lane in Katy, is west of Katy Mills Mall and easily accessible from US 10. The new location offers several advantages, according to Area Superintendent Patrick Cherry.
“The venue is closer to the Alief community than [previous location] the Berry Center and does not charge for parking,” he noted. “Graduation would remain in a climate-controlled environment.”
The facility is also spacious enough to accommodate graduates and their families.
“Just like last year, we are still able to give six tickets to each graduating senior,” he said.
But available dates were a major factor in the decision, Cherry added.
Katy ISD officials “were flexible and allowed us to have a date after May 31, 2023,” he said. “This is important since the state recently pushed back the date for releasing STAAR EOC scores to May 31, 2023. With a ceremony date after that, it will now allow for all students to have a final opportunity to qualify for graduation and walk with their peers.”
The Coleman Coliseum, located across from Stratford High School at 1050 Dairy Ashford Rd., continues to be a good choice for the Kerr and Early College ceremonies, he said.
“We are excited to return to Coleman Coliseum,” Cherry explained. It “not only accommodates the size of both schools' graduating class and their families, but it is indoors, close to the Alief community, and parking is free for families.”
The facility works well for the needs of the Early College and Kerr communities, without being too large for the schools.
“Because Kerr graduates more than 200 students, it can be challenging to find a venue large enough for spectators and graduates that still has adequate parking and theater-type seating above the floor level where graduates sit."
As the dates approach, campuses will provide more information to their seniors about graduation attire, tickets, reporting times, and other details. Information will also be posted online at www.aliefisd.net/graduation, maps and parking information are also linked on the graduation webpage.
Graduation gear for all five campuses can be ordered online from Herff-Jones. Graduation photos will be taken by Marc Nathan Photography and will be available to order after the ceremonies at the Grad Photo Network.
