STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY
MAY 27, 2026
FT. BEND COUNTY EPICENTER
28505 SOUTHWEST FWY ROSENBURG, TX 77471
7:00 PM
If you do not plan on attending the graduation ceremony, please email Ms. Nordt at dnordt@staffordmsd.org. Diplomas will be available for pick-up in the SHS front office on June 8, 2026.
GRADUATION PRACTICE: Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th in the Competition Gym – 9:00am
In-person attendance at BOTH graduation practices is MANDATORY to attend the graduation event. Students with conflicts should address these issues with their Assistant Principal as soon as possible.
STUDENT ARRIVAL: Wednesday, May 27th in the Competition Gym – 4:00 PM
All graduates must take the bus from Stafford High School to the graduation venue. Graduates may begin arriving at the SHS Competition Gym at 4:00pm and arrive no later than 4:15pm. Graduates should not be wearing their cap and gown when they arrive. They will put on their cap and gown once inside the SHS Competition Gym after they check in. Please leave all personal items, including backpacks and purses, at home or in your vehicle.
Gentlemen should wear slacks, a collared shirt, and a tie. Ladies may wear a dress, skirt and blouse, or slacks and a collared shirt. Shoes should be of a dark color. Students should not wear spiked heels. Only flats or wedges will be allowed. Graduation caps and gowns will be available in the gym for purchase at a cost of $80. Caps and gowns may not be altered in any way and students may only wear school-approved cords, stoles, and/or medals.
During the ceremony, please follow the directions of staff members seated at the end of each row to know when it is time to stand and sit. When it is time for your row to walk across the stage, you will stand and turn to your right. You will follow your row leader to the stage. When your name is called you will be handed your diploma cover and will pause at center stage to have your picture taken with the superintendent. After the picture, continue across the stage, down the ramp, and stop to take your picture. You will then walk back to your row and your seat and continue standing until all students who are seated in your row have returned. When all students in your row have returned, please sit when directed to do so by the staff member row leaders.
At the end of the school song, please follow your staff member row leaders back off the floor and exit the arena. If thrown, students should not chase their caps. Caps will be collected and can be picked up when they pick up their diploma. You should join your family in the parking lot at your vehicle and leave the premises. Due to safety concerns, graduates and guests will not be allowed to loiter outside of the stadium or in parking lots after the ceremony.
GUEST ARRIVAL: 6:00 PM
No programs will be distributed at the gates. Four hard copies of the program will be distributed at graduation practice and an electronic version will be available via scanned QR codes at the venue.
PARKING AND BAG POLICY
The Fort Bend County EpiCenter has a clear bag policy for visitors. No non-clear bags larger than 4.5” x 6.5” will be permitted. Clear bags must be smaller than 12” x 12” x 6”. Per venue policy all guests will be subject to a security screening and bag check upon arrival and out of courtesy to other guests, large signs, balloon arrangements, artificial noisemakers, including air horns, flowers, confetti and strollers are prohibited in the arena.
There will be a $5 fee for on-site parking. Parking can be pre-paid by clicking
this link
Students will be notified at graduation practice which side of the arena floor they will be seated on during the graduation ceremony. Students seated on west side of the arena should have guests park on the west side of the arena from the Bamore Road entrance. Students seated on the east side of the arena should have guests park on the east side of the arena from Fairgrounds Road entrance.
LIVE-STREAMING INFORMATION:
The event will be live streamed from the SMSD YouTube channel and the City of Stafford YouTube channel.
Additionally, if families miss the live stream, the video will be posted on the City of Stafford YouTube channel soon after the event.
CEREMONY: 7:00 PM
Audio of Pomp and Circumstance will be played. Students will enter the stadium from the South side of the arena. Everyone should stand during the playing of Pomp and Circumstance.
Following the playing of the alma mater at the end of the ceremony, as students are exiting the floor, guests should begin exiting the arena. Graduates will be reunited with their families on the North side of the arena by the fountain. No loitering will be permitted outside of the stadium or in parking lots.
Graduates needing to ride the bus back to SHS must inform Mr. Garcia at graduation practice and should meet in the backstage staging area of the arena following the ceremony.
