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Nearly 9,000 high school seniors will graduate from Polk County schools over the next two weeks. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of the day.
Ticketing: Tickets are required for graduations at the RP Funding Center. They are ceremony-specific.
The number of tickets per student will vary by school, based on the size of the graduating class. Young children age 3 or under do not need a ticket if they don’t occupy a seat.
Seating is unassigned: Doors will open 90 minutes before each graduation ceremony.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Family members planning to sit together should enter the arena together, as seat-saving is not allowed.
Tickets will be collected at the door, so people will not be allowed to leave and re-enter.
Live streams: “Knowing the importance of this event and that some family members may not be able to attend in person, the ceremonies taking place in the RP Funding Center Jenkins Arena will be live-streamed on the PCPS YouTube channel,” district officials said on the PCPS website.
2025 graduation schedule for Lakeland-area schools
| School | Date | Time | Location | Livestream Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doris Sanders, Jean O’Dell, Karen Siegel | May 10 | 10 a.m. | Lake Region High School Auditorium | Link |
| Harrison School for the Arts | May 19 | Noon | RP Funding Center | HSA Link |
| Lakeland Senior High | May 19 | 3 p.m. | RP Funding Center | LHS Link |
| Polk Virtual & Polk Grad Academy | May 20 | 11 a.m. | Florida Southern College Branscomb Auditorium | No |
| Bartow/IB/ Summerlin | May 20 | 7 p.m. | RP Funding Center | Link |
| Tenoroc High | May 21 | Noon | RP Funding Center | THS Link |
| Kathleen Senior High | May 21 | 3 p.m. | RP Funding Center | KHS Link |
| Ridge & Traviss Technical Colleges | May 22 | Noon | RP Funding Center | Link |
| Lake Gibson Senior High | May 22 | 3 p.m. | RP Funding Center | LGHS Link |
| Fresh Start – Bartow/ Lakeland | May 22 | 6 p.m. | Harrison School for the Arts Auditorium | No |
| George W. Jenkins Senior High | May 23 | 5 p.m. | RP Funding Center | GJHS Link |
RP Funding Center protocols
For those going to ceremonies at the RP Funding Center, there are some things to know:
Bag policy: Large bags are not allowed. Permitted bags include:
- Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12″ by 9″.
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc or similar).
- Small clutch bags, with or without a strap, that do not exceed 8.5″ by 6”.
- Medical bags.
- Child care bags, including diaper bags, when guests are accompanied by a child.
Security: Everyone will be screened by a metal detector and bags will be searched. Weapons, alcohol, noise makers and balloons are not allowed. Check the full list for more banned items.
Meet your grad outside. Parents or family members are not permitted in the graduate holding areas. Following the ceremony, parents and other guests will meet graduates outside. Guests are not allowed on the floor during or after graduation. Graduates may not leave graduation early.
For more on graduation etiquette
Be courteous: The school district asks that all guests be respectful during the entire ceremony, especially during the presentation of diplomas, to make sure all graduates get their moment of recognition.
“Graduation is a formal ceremony,” the district’s website states. “Any inappropriate action observed during the ceremony may result in immediate removal from the venue.”
“This is a very special time of year for PCPS. Graduation is what it’s all about: getting students to the stage and celebrating the hard work they’ve put in,” Superintendent Fred Heid said. “Our students will take many different paths after graduation, and we’re proud of them all. We look forward to welcoming families for this momentous occasion.”
Tag your pics: District officials asked that graduates share their joy and tag their photos with #PolkGrad25.
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