South-Western City Schools announced on Apr. 15 that commencement ceremonies for the class of 2026 will take place on Saturday, May 30 at the Celeste Center in Columbus, Ohio. The district released important information to help families and friends prepare for the event.
The graduation ceremonies mark a significant milestone for students and their families across South-Western City Schools, which serves about 21,000 students as the fifth-largest public school district in Ohio and second-largest in Franklin County, according to the official website.
Ceremonies are scheduled throughout the day: Westland High School at 9:00 a.m., Central Crossing High School at noon, Franklin Heights High School at 3:00 p.m., and Grove City High School at 6:00 p.m. Doors open half an hour before each ceremony and close ten minutes after they begin. Due to ongoing construction at the Celeste Center site, traffic patterns and parking have changed; attendees are encouraged to review updated maps provided by event organizers.
The district emphasized that air horns, noisemakers, balloons, drones or other distractions will not be permitted inside the venue. “This is a dignified ceremony and it is our goal for each graduate’s name to be heard and for each audience member to see the stage,” South-Western City Schools said in its announcement. Attendees are asked to exit promptly after each ceremony concludes.
Graduation tickets will only be distributed directly to graduates following their practice sessions; tickets cannot be given early or handed out to family members separately. Each graduate receives one parking pass along with their ticket allocation. Additional vehicles will incur a charge from Celeste Center staff on site.
Seating is general admission with handicap seating available on a first-come basis. Professional photographers and videographers will document all ceremonies; video links will be shared with families by mid-June.
South-Western City Schools operates four high schools among its network of campuses that includes elementary through career-technical education facilities according to its official website. The district also supports athletics programs as part of student engagement efforts according to its official website.
The district highlights its commitment to community pride through quality education according to its official website, operates under local governance as required by Ohio law according to its official website, covers a service area of approximately 119 square miles according to its official website, and has been recognized for modern facilities with LEED Silver certification according to its official website.
