On this Page:

• Transportation
• Cap & Gown Information
• I forgot to Order my Gown, Cap, or Tassel
• Arrival & Exiting
• Parking
• AISD Clear Bag Policy
• Prohibited Items
• Wristbands
• Student Expectations
• Seating
• What to Expect During the Ceremony
• AISD TV and Live Streaming
• Graduation Photos
• Graduation Items for Sale at Events
• Inclement Weather Plan
• Schedule
• Questions?

Transportation

Students will ride the shuttle from their high school campus to the event venue. Each campus will have shuttle buses running from the campus to the graduation site 2 hours prior to the ceremony start time until 2 hours after the graduation ceremony ends. Families are also able to ride the shuttle. 

Shuttle Schedule

Cap & Gown Information

Graduation attire includes a graduation robe, cap, tassel, and any official regalia awarded by your campus. Heritage stoles may be permitted upon approval. Seniors should submit a photo of their proposed heritage stole for approval by campus administrators. No decorated caps, flowers, leis, money necklaces, Mardi Gras beads, flags, chains, LED flashing lights, etc. are permitted. Tassels are to be worn on the right side of the cap until the Principal directs Seniors to move to the left side at the end of the ceremony.

Seniors are encouraged to dress business casual with pockets for keys and cell phones. Do not bring any bags or items. The area where Seniors line up is not secure; therefore, no items can be left as the area is not monitored.

I Forgot to Order my Gown, Cap, or Tassel

Do not let not having a cap or gown ordered deter you from participating in graduation. We (Registrar’s Office or AP) have extra items on hand that can be loaned to students. Herff-Jones will also be at the graduation site to sell caps and gowns if you did not place an order or if you need a tassel with the Class of 2024. 

Arrival & Exiting

Student Arrival

Seniors should report to the graduation site 1 hour before the ceremony. Seniors must check in with campus staff and line up in alphabetical order to be ready to enter the venue on time. Look for the signs directing Seniors where to check-in. Once you are marked present, you will receive your Class of 2024 medallion. If you don’t check in at the Senior area we will assume you aren’t present and your name will not be called during the ceremony.

Burger Arena & Stadium students are to be dropped off on Hwy 290/Ben White (Visitor) side of the building underneath Burger Stadium.

AISD PAC may enter through the Corral entrance (near shuttle bus drop off) or the main entrance; Seniors at the PAC report to the Multi-Purpose Room for check-in.

Guest Arrival

The graduation ceremony will begin promptly at the scheduled time. Please allow plenty of time for transportation, traffic, and parking. Facility parking instructions will be displayed on signs and by AISD Police, who will be on-site to direct parking and traffic. Shuttle buses will run from each campus two hours before and two hours after the ceremony concludes.

Exiting After the Event

Guests are asked to remain seated until all graduates have exited via the recessional. Graduates are encouraged to meet up with their families and guests outside the venue.

Parking

Parking is free and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Disabled parking spots as well as a designated drop-off area are located in front of the building. AISD Transportation will run a shuttle service from the campus parking lot to the Graduation site.

Performing Arts Center - Additional parking is available at the Promiseland Church on 51st St.
Burger Arena & Stadium - Parking is available on Hwy 290/Ben White Blvd. and Jones Rd. entrances.

AISD Clear Bag Policy

Visitors are required to use clear bags at any Austin ISD facility. All guests may be subject to a visual inspection and/or a bag inspection conducted by an AISD staff member. 

Approved bags must be clear and not exceed 12 in. (by 6 in. by 12 in.) or be a clear one-gallon resealable plastic freezer storage bag—One per person. Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and have a maximum of one logo imprint not exceeding 4.5 in. tall x 3.4 in. wide. The only non-clear bags permitted are small clutch bags (with or without a strap) that are the size of a hand. Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at designated areas. 

Details on Approved and Non-Approved Bags (PDF)
Detalles Sobre Bolsas Permitidas, en Español (PDF)

Prohibited Items

Please note that failure to comply with guidelines may result in ejection from the venue.

• Food and drinks, with the exception of sealed, disposable water bottles
• Smoking/Vaping
• Alcohol may not be served or consumed on any AISD property
• Laser pointers
• Noisemakers or air horns
• Use of drones
• Pets or animals (service animals are permitted for disabled guests)
• Balloons, confetti, powder, large posters, and streamers
• Glitter (thrown, displayed, and/or worn)
• Firearms or explosives, weapons of any kind, are not allowed on any AISD property
• Any item deemed inappropriate for the event by AISD staff

Wristbands

Graduations at the Performing Arts Center require guests to have a wristband due to limited seating. If guests do not have a wristband, they will be admitted to the overflow viewing areas to watch the live streaming in the Black Box Theater and Multipurpose Room.

 In the event of inclement weather, AISD has made alternate plans and arrangements for the ceremonies scheduled to be held outdoors at the Burger Stadium will move to the Burger Arena (inside), which has limited seating. Seniors will receive a select number of wristbands based on the seating capacity of 5,000. Wristbands will be required for admittance to graduation ceremonies. See the Inclement Weather section for more information. 

Student Expectations

Graduates must be on their best behavior upon arrival, during, and after the event. Graduates are expected to remain seated and in attendance through the end of the graduation ceremony. We ask that Seniors remain with their Class of 2024 and cannot leave early before the event ends.

Seating

Mobility-Impaired Guests & ADA Seating

On-site handicapped parking is available. Upon arrival at the graduation site, inform AISD staff at the entrance of your needs. 

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation Seating

Families needing ASL Interpretation will be seated in a designated area for enhanced viewing. Please notify AISD staff at the entrance of the facility that you need ASL seating.

What to Expect During the Ceremony

Seniors

Seniors check-in upon arrival. After checking in, Seniors will line up in alphabetical order. When it is time to enter the event venue, they will follow the line leader to their seat. After the speeches, line leaders will signal seniors when to stand and the entire row in each section stands at once to line up to approach the stage. Seniors will walk onto the stage, receive their diploma cover from the Principal, take a photo, and return to their seats.

Guests

Please refer to the graduation program for the order of events for the ceremony. Once Seniors begin receiving diplomas, please hold your applause until the end of the awarding of diplomas, so that every family can hear their child’s name announced.

AISD TV and Live Streaming

The 2024 Austin ISD Graduation Ceremonies will be broadcast live on Channel 22 on Spectrum, Time Warner Cable, Grande, Google Fiber TV, and AT&T U-verse Channel 99. Watch our free live stream on Apple TV, Roku, YouTube, Facebook, and at AISD TV.

Graduation Photos

Keep it Digital  is the official photographer for all AISD Graduation ceremonies. Students and their families are going to receive the information to order graduation photos following their schools graduation. If there are any questions (before or after the graduations) regarding graduation photos, feel free to call 512-217-3177 or email  support@keepdigital.com

Graduation Items for Sale at Events

There will be items for sale at the graduation that can be purchased before, during, or after graduation. Items available for purchase are flowers, t-shirts with the high school logo and all senior names, and teddy bears. Items can also be purchased online and picked up at the event. 

Inclement Weather Plan

In the event of inclement weather, AISD has made alternate plans and arrangements for the ceremonies scheduled to be held outdoors at the Burger Stadium so that it is a special occasion for all graduates. AISD will decide if necessary and communicate any updates on our district website, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, and by the district notification system email and school messenger to high school families.

All ceremonies will be recorded and broadcast on AISD TV Channel 22, YouTube, and Facebook. Great effort and planning are being invested into making this milestone special for all graduates and their families, whether as regularly planned or if changed in response to weather conditions. AISD appreciates the adaptability and understanding of our students and families.

The contingency plan is as follows: 

The graduation ceremony will move from the Burger Stadium (outside) to the Burger Arena (inside), which has limited seating. Seniors will receive a select number of wristbands based on the seating capacity of 5,000. Wristbands will be required for admittance to graduation ceremonies.

The contingency plan includes postponing the event start time until the inclement weather has passed. In the event of inclement weather, AISD has made alternate plans and arrangements for the ceremonies scheduled indoors at the Performing Arts Center or Burger Arena. AISD will decide if necessary and communicate any updates on our district website, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, and by the district notification system email and school messenger to high school families. 

Questions?

Submit your questions about Graduation on Let’s Talk