Wake County Schools

WCPSS nixes traditional prom, but will hold modified graduation ceremonies for seniors

Wake County Public School System seniors will have a graduation ceremony this year, but no prom.

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By
Sydney Franklin
, WRAL multiplatform producer & Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter
CARY, N.C. — Wake County Public School System seniors will have a graduation ceremony this year, but no prom.

School leaders said Monday that current coronavirus pandemic guidance doesn't allow for larger ceremonies that have been held in the past at Raleigh Convention Center. Instead, each school will host a ceremony on its campus.

Graduations will be at school stadiums and will allow 30% venue capacity.

School leaders said the dates, times and other logistics will be shared with seniors and their families by April 9.

Broughton High School senior Hill Little said he's thankful to get a graduation ceremony that'll feel and look normal.

"Just having that feeling of walking across the stage, getting your diploma [and] just feeling like a senior, I think that'll be great," said Little.

Current pandemic guidance also prevents Wake County seniors from having a traditional prom. Instead, each school will "host an event to safely celebrate graduating seniors and help create memories that are an important part of the high school experience," according a statement on the school district's website.

Details for those events will be announced in upcoming weeks.

Wake County parent Sara Little said the announcement from school leaders came as a shock.

"It's been a little frustrating, or a lot frustrating," said Sara Little. "The kids are looking forward to their senior year and all the traditions that brings, and they've all been squashed."

A spokeswoman for the school district said, "if the capacity percentages for venues change over time, adjustments might be made, but the decision to have graduations on campuses will remain firm. As for proms, a traditional prom in a ballroom, for example, will not be feasible. Plans for celebrating seniors, however, can be amended as social distancing guidance changes."

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