Why are MCHS graduations held in DC?

[Anonymous]

My son is a transfer student from a neighboring county so it caught me off guard that the graduation was being held at DAR. I checked the DAR website and quite a few MC schools hold their graduations there. Why? It was extremely inconvenient getting down there in rush hour traffic for the graduation. Parking was $30, and it was a madhouse on the sidewalk once the ceremony concluded. Inside the hall was nice and spacious, but I can't imagine school officials couldn't find a similar location within the county.

Does anyone have insight on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a transfer student from a neighboring county so it caught me off guard that the graduation was being held at DAR. I checked the DAR website and quite a few MC schools hold their graduations there. Why? It was extremely inconvenient getting down there in rush hour traffic for the graduation. Parking was $30, and it was a madhouse on the sidewalk once the ceremony concluded. Inside the hall was nice and spacious, but I can't imagine school officials couldn't find a similar location within the county.

Does anyone have insight on this?

With such large graduating classes, there is not space at venues in MoCo. When I taught HS, we asked to have graduation at a megachurch in PG because of the free parking. The school board nixed it because of the sizable payment to a church.

[Anonymous]

Strathmore seats ~2000 for a concert, which would barely accommodate 500 students plus 3 guests each. (Not enough...) Might work for a smaller school, but those are already using cheaper facilities.

[Anonymous]

Op here, hmm seems like since graduations will always be a thing the schools could pool together resources to address the accommodation issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strathmore seats ~2000 for a concert, which would barely accommodate 500 students plus 3 guests each. (Not enough...) Might work for a smaller school, but those are already using cheaper facilities.

That’s not taking into account at least 100 faculty that must attend. Graduation is all hands on deck. If you don’t have regalia, the County orders it for you. We walk in procession as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here, hmm seems like since graduations will always be a thing the schools could pool together resources to address the accommodation issue.

MCPS isn’t going to build a 5,000 ft commencement center. Do schools elsewhere actually do that?

[Anonymous]

The larger schools have all switched to UMD over the last few years. It is not as nice of a venue but much easier to get to and plenty of seats.

[Anonymous]

DC is nothing, Blake held theirs in PA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is nothing, Blake held theirs in PA.

Really? Wow.

[Anonymous]

What's worse is DAR is not within walking distance to a train station, so you are forced to drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is nothing, Blake held theirs in PA.

Really? Wow.

Yeah, not quite, but it was at Mt. St. Mary's, so pretty close.

[Anonymous]

I graduated 20 years ago from MCPS and it was at DAR then too. Clearly it's been working or the easiest option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's worse is DAR is not within walking distance to a train station, so you are forced to drive.

When DD graduated from Blair along with a lot of friends from K, the families rented a charter bus. It was cheap and easy.

[Anonymous]

We used Uber last week which worked out and was cheaper than parking. The closest Metro is a 10-15 minute walk, not ideal in the summer heat.

I have heard rumors that the location will be changing next year as the upcoming classes are outgrowing DAR but have not seen anything official. I have heard maybe Xfinity at UMD or Capitol One in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's worse is DAR is not within walking distance to a train station, so you are forced to drive.

Both the HS s my kids went to offered bus service to UMD. I assume most schools do?