Graduation Information
Class of 2025 and Parents/Guardians,
We are excited to announce our Higley High School Graduation Ceremony will be held at ASU’s Desert Financial Arena on May 20, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. Please see the Graduate Parent Letter link for additional details as well as the information below.
Important Dates
- 08/20/2024 Class of 2025 Senior Class Meeting 3rd Hour with Jostens @ HCPA
- 08/23/2024 Class of 2025 Order Day with Jostens @ cafeteria at all lunches. Questions on caps and gowns? Call Jostens 1-800-567-8367 or www.jostens.com (you may order here too).
- 10/30/2024 Deadline for diploma name verification - Please check your synergy account using ParentVUE or StudentVUE as soon as possible for errors regarding your name. How your name appears in synergy is how it will appear on your diploma. If it is incorrect, please contact our Registrar, Mrs. Marjorie Scott, Marjorie.scott@husd.org, 480.279.7312.
- 3/27/2025 Class of 2025 Jostens Senior Delivery Day during both lunches in the cafeteria. If not present, please pick items in the Bookstore March 28th.
- 4/8/2025 Class of 2025 Senior Class Meeting 3rd Hour with Administration. Report to 3rd hour for attendance and then travel to HCPA after attendance.
- 5/5/2025 Senior Checklists will be distributed during English classes. If you do not have an English class – please go to the HHS Bookstore. Seniors may begin getting their Senior Checklists signed off with counselors, athletics, and the cafeteria (cafeteria fees are not an HHS fee and cannot be paid through Bookstore but must be paid). Prior to 5/19/25 all seniors must return all laptop computers, overdue textbooks and library books and clear all outstanding fees, including $50.00 graduation fee.
- 5/12/2025 Senior Awards Ceremony 6:00pm, student check-in will begin promptly at 5:30 pm at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts.
- 5/15/2025 Final exams for ALL seniors - This is a full day of school.
- 5/16/2025 Final exams for ALL seniors - This is a full day of school.
- 5/19/2025 Senior Checklist Deadline at 1:00pm-To participate in your graduation ceremony, this must be completed and turned into the HHS Bookstore
- 5/20/2025 Class of 2025 Mandatory Graduation Practice will begin promptly at 6:00 am in the Aux Gym.
- 5/20/2025 Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony at ASU’s Desert Financial Arena at 2:30 pm. Student Check-In promptly at 1:00 p.m.
LIVESTREAM LINK for Higley High School Graduates –
Will be available and posted here on the day of graduation.
Graduation Venue and Ticket info
Graduation is held at ASU Desert Financial Arena, 600 East Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ 85281
No tickets required. No limit on the number of family/friends able to attend. Seating is on a first come first serve basis and doors will open 1 hour prior to ceremony.
Disabled seating is available.
Jostens Cap and Gown Orders - Deadline to Order is March 14, 2025
Jostens will be onsite on 8/23/24 to assist seniors in ordering their cap/gown for graduation during both lunch hours in cafeteria. Online ordering for graduation announcements, cap/gowns and many senior things is available at www.jostens.com . ORDER NOW!! DEADLINE TO ORDER IS: March 14, 2025. Any orders placed online will be delivered on 3/27/25 during both lunches.
Questions? Please call Jostens at 602-765-7337
Requesting Transcripts
If you are planning on attending a four-year University, Community College or vocational training program and the school requires Final Transcripts, you will use Parchment.com for your requests. Please follow this link to begin requesting: https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/197685/account. Questions contact – Registrar, Mrs. Marjorie Scott, Marjorie.scott@husd.org, 480.279.7312
Diplomas – How name will appear.
Please check your synergy account using ParentVUE or StudentVUE as soon as possible for errors regarding your name. How your name appears in synergy is how it will appear on your diploma. If it is incorrect, please contact our Registrar, Mrs. Marjorie Scott, Marjorie.scott@husd.org, 480.279.7312.
Honor Cords
Honor Cords will be handed out at either the students last club meeting / event or Senior Awards Night. Only approved Honor Cords will be allowed.
NHS and Student Council Stoles
Stoles will be taken care of by the advisor. Please check with Mrs. Rima or Mrs. Lewandowski for NHS and Mrs. Accra for STUCO.
Senior Awards Ceremony
Senior Awards Ceremony is May 12, 2025, in the Higley Center for Performing Arts at 6:00pm. The program will begin promptly at 6:00pm. If you choose not to participate in the awards ceremony or if there is a change in your award, please contact the Counseling Office (480.279.7304).
Senior Check Out
Seniors will receive check out forms in their English classes in May. Seniors will be able to start getting signoffs done by Counselors and Athletics as early as Monday, May 5th. All Seniors with any outstanding debts (including book, athletic, class fees, uniforms, lost books, etc.) must be paid in full to participate in the graduation ceremony. Check with Cafeteria for any outstanding balance with them. Bookstore will be the FINAL place to get sign off done after all your finals are complete – 5/15 and 5/16). If you do not have an English class on campus extras will be at bookstore. Check with the bookstore now to see if you have any outstanding debts! Completed/signed form need to be turned into the bookstore no later than May 19th at 1:00 p.m.
Graduation Practice
Graduation practice will be held at Higley High School on Tuesday, May 20th at 6:00 a.m. Practice is mandatory. If you are not at graduation practice, you may not participate in the ceremony. Do not bring your cap and gown to practice. Graduates with names that have a difficult pronunciation, please see the name readers after practice. QR code will be available on Monday, May 19th, and morning practice for you to learn of your row assignment. This will ensure practice runs smoothly and once doors open you can immediately go right to your row assignment and teacher to take attendance.
Graduation Ceremony
The graduation ceremony will be Tuesday, May 20th. Students not present at call time (1:00 p.m.) will not be able to participate. If you are unable to attend graduation on the 20th please make arrangements to pick up your diploma after May 20th at the front desk during school office hours. All seniors are encouraged to participate in the commencement ceremony. Please contact Ms. Simmons if you will NOT be participating in graduation at 480.279.7313.
Appropriate Dress for Class of 2025 at Graduation Ceremonies
Students will NOT be allowed to carry any items with them (including food, drink, clothes hangers, or flowers) onto the graduation floor.
NO electronic devices will be allowed with graduates at graduation. This includes cell phones, iPods, cameras, etc.
Please leave all items with a family member before entering the building. Staff members will be taking unauthorized items. Confiscated items will be available at HHS front desk in the administration building the following day during office hours.
No tennis shoes, flip flops or shorts will be allowed.
Mortarboards (Caps) should not be altered in any way, nor should anything (other than the appropriate tassel) be attached to or written on it. Only HHS-provided graduation apparel may be worn; no pins, flowers etc. allowed.
Any student who appears to be under the influence of a controlled substance will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony and fall under the jurisdiction of local police.
Graduation Pictures
Since parents may not enter the arena floor, a professional photographer from Lou Coopey will be at the graduation ceremony to take a candid photograph of each graduate at the time the diploma is presented. You may place orders and obtain answers to questions at Lou Coopey Photography office. Since professional photographers will be available, arena staff members ensure that family and guests can remain in their seats relaxed to enjoy the ceremony. Please visit the lou coopey website for ordering: www.loucoopey.com
MESSAGES FROM DESERT FINANCIAL ARENA
High School Graduation represents the culmination of a student’s academic achievement. It is a time of celebration and reflection for students, family, friends, faculty, and staff. It brings together a diverse community to share the joy of accomplished goals. Graduation is a special event for all involved. Please show respect for everyone who has come to share in the experience. Individuals who engage in inappropriate or disruptive behavior may be removed from the event.
DESERT FINANCIAL SPECIAL SERVICES
- Lost and Found is located in room 116
- First Aid Station will be located in section #15
- Handicapped seating is available in the arena. First come, first served
- Restrooms and Concessions are available around the concourse
PARENT/GUEST GUIDELINES
- The doors to the Desert Financial Arena open at 6:30pm, one hour prior to the graduation ceremony
- The event is open to the public.
- Parents, family and friends will not be allowed on the floor at any time before, during or after the ceremony.
- Security at Desert Financial Arena may be conducting “searches” of all students and adults entering the facility as they would for a regular ASU sponsored event.
- All spectators will pass through metal detectors prior to entering the arena.
- See the following lists for items that will and will not be allowed in the arena.
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE ARENA
- Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12"
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
- Small clutch bags (no larger than 4.5" x 6.5") with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the venue
- Medically necessary items after proper inspection at gates
- Factory sealed water bottles 51 oz. / 1.5 liters or smaller
- Empty non-disposable plastic water bottles • Small retractable umbrellas
- Umbrella strollers
- Service animals
- Seat cushions and chair backs must be 18" or less in width (No pockets, zippers, compartments, or covers)
THE FOLLOWING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE ARENA
- Soft or hard sided coolers, ice chests
- Glass or metal containers
- Outside beverages
- Tortillas
- Use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and smokeless cigarettes/tobacco
- Cameras with detachable lenses greater than 6" or video cameras
- Tripods, monopods, or selfie sticks for cameras/phones
- Full size strollers
- Backpacks, diaper bags and other similar bags will not be allowed
- Bikes, skateboards, scooters, hover boards, long boards
- Large golf umbrellas
- Pitchforks (wood, metal, plastic)
- Sticks, poles or similar objects that can be used as a weapon
- Weapons of any kind including those carried with permit
- Fireworks, drones or laser pointers
- Artificial noisemakers (Example: air horns, thunderstix, musical instruments, cans filled with contents, whistles, cow bells or any other item used to make artificial noise)
- No pets/animals
To enhance public safety and make stadium access more efficient, Sun Devil Athletics adopted a Clear Bag Policy. Guests may bring in one (1) clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" or a 1-gallon plastic storage bag. Fans are limited to one clear bag per person, along with a small clutch or purse for privacy. Staff from the ASU Bookstore will be on hand selling bags should you need them.