Graduation

Date/Time: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 at 1:00pm

Location: Kohl Center - 601 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53703

Guests: There is no limit on the number of guests per student.

 

Midwest Scholastic is our partner for all graduation items.

• You will need to order a cap/gown/stole/tassel for the ceremony. You can find more information here .
• Any items ordered through Midwest Scholastic prior to 5/12/25 will be available for pick up in the Highland/Ash Office #2211. They will be dropping off new orders every other week until graduation to the Highland/Ash Office. We will email you when your order arrives, please pick up them up as soon as possible.
• All questions about orders should be directed to Midwest Scholastic at questions@mwscholastic.com

 

Graduation Practice:

• Will be held June 11, promptly at noon, in the Stevens Gym.
• Please bring your cap and gown. You will receive your yellow stole at graduation practice. You do not need to bring your tassel.

Ceremony Details:

Seating/Entrance:
Family and guest seating is first come first serve, tickets are NOT REQUIRED and there is NO LIMIT on the number of guests per graduate. Doors open for graduates, families and guests at noon.  Graduates should be at the Kohl Center by 12:15 pm in the required graduation attire. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.
Graduate Attire: Dress for this beautiful celebration with dress clothes and appropriate/comfortable footwear so you are able to walk across the stage confidently. We recommend taking your gown out of the bag well before graduation. Bring ONLY your cap, gown, stole, tassel, school approved buttons and stoles, and school issued honor cords. Have your family and/or friends hold your phones, purses, or bags because there is no storage area.

Prohibited Items:
Note that metal detectors will be in place at the Kohl Center. The following items are not allowed at the venue: Bags larger than 4.5? x 6.5?, including backpacks, purses, camera bags, drawstring bags, fanny packs and binocular cases, inflatables (including balloons), noise makers, glass vases, flags, banners, signs, food, beverages, containers, strollers, baby carrier seats, laser pointers, selfie sticks, tripods, weapons, or any items deemed dangerous or inappropriate.

Accessibility:
The ceremony will be fully accessible including American Sign Language Interpretation (located near section 121), closed captioning and wheelchair and wheelchair companion seating scattered through the main level concourse (100 level) and the upper level (200 level). The top two rows of chairs in the 100 level will be reserved for those that can handle some chairs, and the Kohl Center will also have ADA platforms that will allow those individuals with wheelchairs.  For any guests that need elevator assistance, they will need to use the one that is located at Gate A. The drop-off location for the Kohl Center is on Dayton Street directly in front of the building at Gate A. Guest services personnel will have wheelchairs available for transportation from the Dayton Street drop-off location to the Kohl Center seating area. Wheelchairs are for transportation purposes only and cannot be used for patron seating during the ceremony. Anyone in need of wheelchair services can call Guest Services at 608-263-5645 on the day of the ceremony. Visit the Kohl Center's Accessibility Website for more information.
Parking: Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.  Visit UW's Event Parking website for more information.  Please plan ahead for altered traffic patterns due to construction and time to walk.

Photography:
Audience members are not allowed on the main floor before, during or after the ceremony. Empire Photography will capture multiple angles of each graduate, including when they receive their diploma at the commencement ceremony. To ensure easy access and order graduate's photos after the ceremony, please pre-register using the enclosed link. Pre-registering helps properly identify each graduate and deliver proofs to families as quickly as possible after the ceremony.
Video: The ceremony will be livestreamed on the MMSD YouTube page and archived for play back afterwards. The link will not be LIVE until the day of the ceremony.

MMSD Guidance for Graduation Ceremony Attire
At their graduation ceremonies, students will be allowed to adorn their sashes with pins that signify an accomplishment they achieved during high school (e.g. AVID, PEOPLE, TEEM Scholars, Early College STEM Academy Graduates, etc). Stoles for MMSD programs such as BSU and other MMSD clubs/programs can also be worn with building principal approval, but the school stole must be laid over any other being worn.

It is preferred that students don't decorate their caps; however, if students choose to do so, if the decorations become a disruption to the ceremony, the student's cap will be taken and returned at the end of the ceremony. A student has the right to wear religious, ceremonial, or cultural adornments at graduation as long as it is not likely to cause a substantial disruption of, or interference with, the ceremony. One example of adornments that would be allowed under this guidance is a Native American student who wishes to wear a feather that holds religious or cultural significance for them. Any exceptions to this guidance must be approved by the Associate Superintendent of High Schools.

 

Empire Photography

Empire Photography will be photographing every graduate as they receive their diploma at the commencement ceremony.
To ensure you can easily access and order your graduate's photos after the ceremony, please take a moment to pre-register using the QR code below or visit www.empirephotos.com/MadisonWHS43

Pre-registering helps properly identify each graduate and deliver proofs to families as quickly as possible after the ceremony.

Empire will capture multiple angles of each graduate, including the diploma presentation and special moments throughout the ceremony.